UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 I R E N I C U M: 
 
 O R, 
 THE IMPORTANCE OF 
 
 UNITY 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST 
 
 CONSIDERED; 
 
 AND APPLIED TOWARDS THE HEALING 
 
 OF OUR 
 UNHAPPY DIFFERENCES AND DIVISIONS. 
 
 Ev&OVfAtOa TV OfJUH/OlClV, 
 
 Ckm. Epift. ad Corinth. fel. 30. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. and F. RIVINGTON, in St. Paul's Church-yard; 
 T. PAYNE, at theMcufe Gate; and B. WHITE, in Fleet-ftrect. 
 
 MDCgLXXV, 
 
 9082 6
 
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 be .fcm.i .rns!
 
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 "130 
 
 
 THE 
 
 IMPORTANCE o/* UNITY, 
 
 P~ | ^HE feafonablenefs of a difcourfe on 
 JL this fubjed muft appear at firfl 
 
 fight to every one, who pays the leaft re- 
 gard, or attention to the religious dif- 
 ^ Ferences which prevail among us ; or 
 ^ who is at all verled in the controverfy 
 5 about fubfcription to the articles of the 
 
 church of England; efpecially when it is 
 
 00 conlidered, that throughout the whole 
 22 courfe of it, at lead as far as it hath come 
 c ^in my way to be acquainted with it, very 
 c? little notice feems to have been taken of 
 "^the great principle of unity on the one 
 ^ fide, any more than on the other ; which 
 |= yet, it is humbly prefumed, ought to have 
 
 1 B had 
 
 301343
 
 2 IRE N I CUM: Or, . 
 
 had the firfl place in the confideration of 
 both. 
 
 To recall the attention of all parties to 
 this great and neceffary point, was the fole 
 motive which overcame my reluctance to 
 enter into this controverfy : Nor, indeed, 
 could I fcarce have prevailed with myfelf 
 to intermeddle with it at all, had not this, 
 and the other topicks, which I mean to 
 dwell chiefly upon, been of a catholick and 
 conciliating nature. Whence I wifh to 
 appear in the light of a moderator in this 
 difpute-, who is deftrous of contributing 
 his endeavours to heal our breaches, rather 
 than to keep up the ball of contention, 
 which hath been bandied about too much 
 already. 
 
 Bifhop Stfllingjbut publifhed his Irenlcum 
 with the benevolent view of accommo- 
 dating the differences between the church 
 of England, and the DiiTenters of his time. 
 Ambitious of following the fleps of a pre- 
 late r who was fo great an ornament to this 
 church and nation, though non pajjibiis 
 iSy I have taken the liberty of adopting 
 
 the
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 3 
 l:he fame title, and prefixing it to a traft, 
 the defign of which is of the fame na- 
 ture, however deficient it may prove in the 
 execution, and how far fhort fdever it may 
 fall of obtaining its end. 
 
 What is here offered for this piirpofe 
 confifts chiefly of obfervations on the fol- 
 lowing heads : 
 
 That the church of Chrift is founded 
 upon unity That this principle was care- 
 Fully cultivated, and religiouily main- 
 tained, by the primitive church That an 
 early regard was paid to it by the church 
 of -England at the Reformation That not 
 only all the other Prdteftant churches, 
 and all the foreign divines of that age, but 
 even the old rion-conformiib here in Eng^ 
 land, had a deep fenfe of the importance 
 of unity ; ftrorigly remonftrated againft 
 fchifm ; and condemned it as a great fin 
 and heinous tranfgreffion. 
 
 Subfcription to the articles of faith re- 
 
 cjiiired by the church of "England, in order 
 
 to preferve the unity of it, having been 
 
 much controverted of late, the right, 
 
 B 2 wifdom,
 
 4 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 wifdom, and utility, of fuch requifition is 
 in the next place difcuffed and ftated ; fe- 
 veral queftions, arifmg from this fubject, 
 are incidentally refolved ; and fome other 
 expedients, which have been propofed, in- 
 flead of fubicription to the Thirty-nine 
 articles, as better anfwering the fame end, 
 are impartially weighed and conlidered. 
 
 The whole is clofed with an earneft ex- 
 hortation to Chrifiians of all denomina- 
 tions amongft us, to cultivate catholick 
 and uniting principles, for the fake of 
 promoting, and endeavouring to keep the 
 unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 
 
 Firft, I deiire it may be obferved, that 
 the church of Chrift is founded upon 
 unity. 
 
 This is one of the main pillars on 
 which it refts ; and this is implied in the 
 very defign, nature, and tendency, of the 
 Chriftian religion. 
 
 Unity of defign, and a confidence and 
 fymmetry of parts, is neceflary to the du- 
 ration and {lability of every conftitution : 
 And the Divine Founder of his church 
 
 knew
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 5 
 knew this fo well, that he lays it down 
 as a certain truth, that a houfe divided 
 again/I iff elf cannot Jland.. And yet this 
 great truth, fo obvious in itfelf, is at pre- 
 ient fo little regarded, that we feem in a 
 manner to have loft all fight of it. I 
 therefore beg leave to infift a little more 
 largely on a fubject that concerns the very 
 eflence of Chriftianity. 
 
 Our blefled Lord died, that he might 
 gather together in one the children of God, 
 that were jcattered abroad*, that there 
 might be onefold, and one fiepherd*, that 
 they all might be one, as He and the Father 
 are one, He in them, and they in him, that 
 they might be made perfett in one c . 
 
 This implies the mod abfolute, com- 
 plete, and finimed union that can be con- 
 ceived. In this his laft and longeft prayer 
 to the Father, Chrift repeats hisdefirein. 
 five or fix different expreflions, that his 
 difciples might be one, and kept in one 
 body ; which mews how neceflary a part 
 
 * John, ch. xi. 51, 52. * Ch. x, 16. 
 
 f Ch. xvii. 22, 23. 
 
 B of
 
 6 I R E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 of religion he intended this mould be | 
 and likewife intimates to us the danger he 
 forefaw of his followers departing from it, 
 which made him intercede To earneftly for 
 it. And how entire and tender he meant 
 to render this union, appears from his 
 praying it might be fuch as that between 
 the Father and himfelf was. 
 
 Every inftitution and appointment of 
 our Lord manifeiled his intention of affo- 
 ciating his followers into one body. He de- 
 livered his prayer to them all in t\\z plural^ 
 to fhew that he chiefly intended they 
 fhould ufe it in 3, body. He appointed 
 baptifm, as the way of receiving men into 
 this body. ; and the eucharift, as a joint me- 
 morial that the body of his difciples was 
 to keep up of his death d . 
 
 For the conftant and perpetual mainte- 
 nance of this fpiritual connection, Chrifl; 
 hath, for his part, promifed to be with his 
 faithful difciples always, unto the end of the. 
 world* ; and, to encourage them to affo- 
 
 dSeeBiihopgwrwtt on the Articles. Art. XXXIV. 
 * Matt, xxviii. 20. 
 
 ciate
 
 Tfo IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 7 
 cJatc, and aflemble together, for the con- 
 tinuance and improvement of it, in the 
 feveral a&s and ordinances of religious 
 worfhip, and mutual good offices, which 
 have a powerful tendency and influence in 
 promoting love and harmony among Chri- 
 flians, he aflures them, that where but two 
 or three are gathered together in his name, 
 there he is in the mldjl of them f . For the 
 better effecting and ftrengthening this 
 blefled union among Chriftians, he con- 
 fiders himfelf as their head, and the whole 
 fociety, which he wills them to form, as 
 .his body, and members in particular, 
 every one of them, of him, and of each 
 other. 
 
 " The apoftles frequently ufe the figure 
 " of a body to exprefs this union ; than 
 " which nothing can be imagined that is 
 " more firmly knit together, and in which 
 " all the parts do more tenderly fympa- 
 *' thize with one another g ." And, to 
 convince us of the perfect harmony to 
 
 f Mfitt. xviii. 20. * Bifhop Burnet ib. 
 
 B 4 which
 
 8 I R E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 which Chrift means to] bring this his my- 
 ftical body the church, and in what jufl 
 proportion and fymmetry of parts he 
 would have it all to be framed together, 
 however defective of this it may be at pre- 
 fent ; the apoftle Paul compares it to the 
 httytan body, all the members of it acting 
 in. conjunction with, and {Subordination to, 
 each other, contributing to the fupport of 
 the. whole, and being fo tempered together, 
 that there be no fchifm in the one, any 
 more than in the other ; but that all 
 the members JJjould have the fame care one 
 of another,, and fympathize with eacrj 
 other h . 
 
 I befeechyou, brethren, faith the apoftle, in. 
 this fame epiftle (for brethren we all are), 
 by the name of our Lord Jefus Chrift, of 
 whom the whole family in heaven and 
 earth is named, that ye all f peak the fame 
 thing, and profefs the fame do&rine, that 
 there be no divijions, fchifms, nor contentions t 
 among you: but that ye be perfectly joined, 
 and framed together into one entire body, 
 
 * i Cor, xii. 
 
 in
 
 *fbe IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 9 
 jn the fame mlnd t and in the fame judge- 
 ment ', united in affedtion, and, as far as 
 poffibJe, in fentimenr, belief, and prin- 
 ciple likewife. 
 
 Agreeably to this, he elfewhere exhorts 
 us, to endeavour, with all our power, to keep 
 the unity of the Spirit, this fpiritual unity, 
 in the bond of peace, from the following 
 confederations : That the church of (Thrift 
 is in its nature but one, one in its feveral 
 parts, and one likewife in the feveral per- 
 fon,s who govern and conflitute the whole 
 pf it. There is, fays he, one body, and one 
 fpirlt, or foul, which animates it, even as 
 ye are called in one hope of your calling : One 
 Lord, one faith, one baptifm : One God, and 
 Father of all, who is above all, and through 
 all, and in you all k . 
 
 In order to promote and eftablifh this 
 perfect union, Chrifl hath appointed fe- 
 veral diftinft orders of men in his church ; 
 for the due conduct and government of 
 it; the inftrudtion and difcipline of its 
 members ; the keeping of them in a body ; 
 
 J j Cor. i. 10, 1 1. k Eph. iv. 36. 
 
 and
 
 io IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 and for the better and more orderly admi- 
 nifiration of its fervice and worfhip in its 
 feveral parts ; for the perfecting, or knitting 
 together, of the faints ; for the work of the 
 mini/try; for the edifying of the body of 
 Chrift - 3 till we all meet in the unity of the 
 faith ; or arrive at an unity of faith, and 
 of the knowledge, or acknowledgement, of 
 the Son of Goal, and grow up unto a per feel 
 man-, as if we all were but as one perfon, 
 infpired with one foul ; and till we attain 
 unto the meafure of thzt-Jfafurt which is to 
 make up the follnefs of Chrift: That, 
 having obtained fuch a firmnefs of con- 
 ftitution, we fhall then be no longer tqffed 
 to and fro like children, and carried about 
 with every wind of doctrine, by the Jleight 
 find cunning craftlnejs of men, according to 
 the fubtlle method of impojlure 1 ; but, ' fin- 
 'cerely loving the truth, ive Jhall, by that 
 means, grow up into a firm union In all 
 things with Chrift our head, from whom the 
 whole body, being compared and nurtured, 
 
 1 Gr. ?rpo? rv noJl:iay TJJJ TrXaWj literally the me- 
 thodifm of impojlure } an unlucky appellation. 
 
 or
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 1 1 
 or cemented, together, obtains increafe from 
 every connection contributing to /V, according 
 to the efficacious operation of every part, in. 
 its proportion, to the edifying cf itfelf In 
 love m . 
 
 In thp original this is exprefTed in fuch 
 ftrong and complicated terms, as feem de- 
 figned to imprefs the complicated and 
 compact nature of that union, which is 
 inculcated by it, the more deeply upon 
 our minds. I have attempted a tranfla- 
 tion, as expreffive as I could render it, of 
 the fenfe of the original ; but our lan- 
 guage wants nerves to exprefs the nervous 
 import of it. The fame fentiment occurs 
 in another epifUe of this fame apoftle, in 
 almoft the fame words ; importing, that 
 from Ghrift, the head, the whole body of 
 his church, like the natural body, is nou- 
 rifhed and 'knit together in love, by the 
 joints, or futures, and ligaments, with 
 which he hath united and bound all its 
 parts to each other ; and by this means it 
 
 m Eph. iv. i2-r-i6 
 
 is
 
 iz I RE NIC CM: Or, 
 
 is enabled to thrive and profper, and to in* 
 creafe with the increafe of God n . 
 
 A body, thus clofcly cemented toge- 
 ther, muft of courfe acquire the found - 
 nefs and {lability of the moft complete 
 body politick. Our Divine Lawgiver, there- 
 fore, advanced it into a kingdom, which, 
 in its conftitution, government, and laws, 
 is framed to collect and preferve the fe- 
 veral members of it in all outward acts, 
 and inward difpoiitions, of mutual peace, 
 fidelity, benevolence, and agreement in 
 fentiment, as well as affection, far fuperior 
 to, and in a manner diftinct from, all the 
 kingdoms of this world. Whence the 
 Lord of it might juflly fay, his kingdom 
 was not of this world, not founded on the 
 fame narrow maxims of policy which the 
 kingdoms of this world are generally built 
 upon : And he no lefs truly verified his 
 promife of building his church upon a 
 rock. 
 
 The fubjects of this kingdom are ac- 
 cordingly exhorted, and ftrictly enjoined, 
 " Col, ii. 19. 
 
 tQ
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 13 
 to do all good offices, not only to each 
 other, but to all mankind, even their very 
 enemies; and to cultivate chanty and 
 good-will towards all the world ; ftill in 
 conformity to, and in purfuance of, the 
 fame great principle of unity on which it 
 is founded. 
 
 On this principle too it was, that our 
 Lord brake that middle wall of partition be- 
 tween Jew and Gentile which had kept 
 them afunder, and made both one, in one 
 body, by his crofs, having thereby Jlain that 
 enmity which had been between them . 
 For preferving this bleffed union, the 
 apoftle Paul, in conjunction with the other 
 apoftles, as there are grounds to fuppofe, 
 prefcribed rules of uniformity, and fup- 
 prefled the contentions of men, by the 
 cuftom of the churches of God, to which 
 he required all to conform p . And he 
 ordained the fame practice in all the 
 churches i. And hence, by the way, the 
 church of England is juftified in enacting 
 
 Eph.ii. 14, 15, i$. ' i Cor. xi. 16. 
 
 *. i Cor. iv. 17. "'xiv. 33. 
 
 laws
 
 14 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 laws of uniformity, as it follows the pai- 
 tern fet by the apoftles in that refpect. 
 
 From the foregoing paflages of fcrip- 
 tare, we fee what ftrefs it lays upon unity 
 in the church of Chrift, and how warmly 
 it preifes the prefervation of it ; than 
 which we need no better argument of its" 
 great importance and necefllty. 
 
 Of this we (hall be flill farther con- 
 vinced from what the word of God fays 
 of divifions in the church. 
 
 Our blefled Lord teaches no more than 
 what neceiTarily refults from the nature 
 of things, as already obferved : That every 
 kingdom divided agalnjl itfelf is brought to 
 dcfolatlon ; and that a city, or houfe, divided 
 again/I itfelf \ cannot Jland r . Now I be- 
 feech you, brethren, fays the apoftle, mark 
 them which caufe divifions and offences, con* 
 trary to the doctrine of unity which-ys have 
 learned, and avoid them s . Having been 
 informed, that there were contentions 
 among the Corinthians, he befeeches them, 
 as they were brethren, by the name of their 
 r Matt, *ii. 25. Rom. xvi. 17. 
 
 common
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 15 
 
 common Lord and mafter Jefus Cbrift, that 
 they would all f peak the fame thing, that 
 there might be no divifions, orfchifms, as it 
 is in the margin, among them. He re- 
 proves them very iharply for ranging 
 themfelves under different leaders, every 
 one faying, I am of Paul, and I of Apolios, 
 and I of Cephas, and I of Chrifl. Is Chrijl 
 divided ? 'was Paul crucified for you ? or 
 'were ye baptized into the name of Paul ? 
 fays St, Paul himfelf f . He blames them 
 for their carnal tempers, from there being 
 envying, and ftrife, and divisions, or fac- 
 tions, among them. And he cenfures them 
 again upon the fame account ; and ob- 
 ferves, that their fchifms and diviuons 
 muft of courfe be productive of feels and 
 heresies u . And in the next chapter he 
 (hews at large, as obferved above, how 
 God had tempered the body of his church 
 together, and difpofed the feveral members 
 of it in fuch harmony, that there mould 
 t -be no fchifm or divifion in it, any more 
 
 i Cor. i. 10, ii, 12, 13. ch.iii. 3. 
 e I Cor. xi. 1 8. 
 
 than
 
 16 I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 than in the human body w ; and, mould it 
 by any violence be maimed and lacerated, 
 and its feveral parts be torn and difmem- 
 bered from it, we all know how fatal that 
 would be to it : And, whenever the like 
 happens to the fpiritual body of Chrift, 
 it cannot be lefs deftructive in proportion ; 
 and every partial divifion, that is made in 
 it, weakens, and tends more or lefs to dif- 
 folve the union Of it, wherein its great 
 ftrength conlifts. Therefore every fpecies 
 and degree of contention and feparation in 
 the church is to be lamented, as a mark 
 of God's difpleafure, drawn down for the 
 punimment of the fins of its members. 
 
 In the church of the Ifraelites, the 
 dreadful deftruftion of Corah and his fac- 
 tious afibciates is held forth as an example 
 and warning, to all future generations, of 
 the fin and danger of diviiions in the di- 
 vine worfhip ; the Lord doing a new thing, 
 by caufing the earth to cleave afunder, and 
 fwallow up this rebellious crew, at their 
 
 w i Cor. xii. 24, 25. 
 
 very
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNiryj fee. ij 
 
 very rife ; to prevent the mlfchievous ef- 
 fects of ftirring up any oppofition to a le- 
 gal eftablimment ih his church x . 
 
 It was for thejins of her prophets, and the 
 Iniquities of her priejls, that the anger of the 
 Lord divided them, and that he no more re* 
 garded them?. From the whole it ap- 
 pears, that Chrift hath formed his church 
 into one SleiTed fociety, by certain laws of 
 connection and coherence ; which if Chri- 
 ftians would fubmit to be governed by, 
 and -religioufly obferve, would be the moft 
 effectual and indiflbluble of all others 
 whatfoevef. 
 
 This is what we have good grounds to 
 expect they will in the end be brought to, 
 when there will be but one fold under one 
 /hepherd; of which more hereafter* And 
 this fociety is framed and linked together 
 upon fo comprehend ve a plan, that it is 
 not confined to the bounds of this earth ; 
 which only furnifhes colonies, to be re- 
 ceived into the far more extend ve regions, 
 occupied by the church triumphant in 
 * Numb, xvi, throughout. * Lam. iv. 13. 16. 
 C heaven 5
 
 i8 IRENICUM: Or, 2 
 heaven ; both being in communion, and 
 haying an intercourfe with each other. 
 
 Purfuant to this plan, I proceed to ob- 
 ferve, 
 
 Secondly, That this great principle of 
 unity was carefully cultivated, and re* 
 ligioufly maintained, by the primitive 
 church. 
 
 The very firft thing that the difciples of 
 our Lord did after his departure from 
 them, and his afcenfion into heaven, was 
 to form themfelves into a fmall fociety ; 
 continuing fledfajlly in the apoftles doftrlne 
 and fellow/hip ; having fold all their goods 
 and poffemons, and thrown them into one 
 common flock, for their mutual fupport j 
 employed in the conftant exercife of fa- 
 mily-devotion ; and at the fame time, 
 with one accord, daily frequenting the 
 publick worihip in the temple. 
 
 Their unanimity and charity gained 
 them refped and admiration, and rapidly 
 increased their number. 'Three thoufand 
 fouls were added to them in one ] day ; 
 which foongrewto/itf thoufand; and frill 
 
 the
 
 T'he IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 19 
 the multitude of them that believed were of 
 one hearty and of one foul: Neither f aid any 
 of them, that aught of the things 'which he 
 pojjejjed was his own ; for they had all things 
 common z . And their ]ove of each other 
 was fo remarkable, that it became noto- 
 rious even to a proverb ; and was the envy 
 of their heathen neighbours. 
 
 The firft difference that arofe in the 
 church was immediately fettled by the au- 
 thority of an apoftolical council ; which 
 ordained fome things, among others of 
 greater confequence, to be obferved by the 
 Gentile converts, that might be looked 
 upon as mere articles of peace ; being in 
 themfelves fo uneflential to Chriftianity, 
 that they were generally difregarded foon 
 after the age in which they had been en- 
 joined a . 
 
 We have' very probable grounds- to be- 
 lieve, that, befides the holy fcriptures, 
 there was a fymbol of faith delivered to 
 the church by the apoftles, and their dif- 
 
 * A6b iv. 32. * Ails xv. 20. 
 
 C 2 ciples ;
 
 20 IRENICUM: Of, 
 
 ciples ; which was embraced, and ftri&Iy 
 adhered to, throughout the whole Chri- 
 flian world ; and that this, for fubftance, 
 was much the fame with, what is now 
 called, the apoftles creed. This was that 
 form of doctrine, which was delivered to the 
 church* ; That form of found words, which 
 St. Paul charged Timothy to hold fajl j 
 That good thing, which, by the grace of God's 
 Spirit^ he was to keep c ; The things, which 
 he had heard of him among many ivitnejffes ; 
 which he was to commit to faithful men, 
 who jhottld be able to teach others alfo* ; The 
 things, which he had learned, and had been 
 ajjured of, knowing of whom he had learned 
 them e ; Thefrjl principles of the oracles of 
 God, and of the dottrine of Chrijl f . This, 
 in a word, was the fame faith ftill, which 
 was once delivered to the faints ; and which 
 they were exhorted earneflly to contend 
 
 * Rom. vi. 17. * 2 Tim. i. 13, 14. 
 
 * 2 Tun. ii. 2. e Ch. iii. 14. 
 
 f HeUv. 12. vi. i. Judej- 
 
 All
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c.- 21 
 All thefe different modes of expreffion 
 agree in one and the fame import ; that if 
 there was not fome certain ftandard, or 
 fixed formulary of faith, delivered by the 
 apoftles, and other planters of churches, 
 to which all doctrines were to be reduced ; 
 yet that there were in all churches fuch 
 forms as agreed in eflentials, and were in 
 fubftance the fame throughout. Thefe 
 were preferved with the greateft regard 
 and veneration; and were chiefly com- 
 mitted to the care of the refpective 
 bifhops, who were extremely watchful 
 over their facred depojitum ; often meeting, 
 and fometimes at the peril of their lives, 
 to confult about the good of the church ; 
 to preferve it, as far as they were able, in 
 the true faith ; to prevent innovations, or 
 to remonftrate againft them ; and at other 
 times, fending profeffions of faith to each 
 other, upon their agreement in which 
 they held communion together. And 
 when any, either of the clergy or laity, 
 removed, or traveled from one diocefe to 
 another, they were fu mimed, by the 
 C
 
 22 I REN 1C UM: Or, 
 
 biftiop of the diocefe, to which they be- 
 longed, with commendatory epiftles, men- 
 tioned by St. PW h ; in teftimony of love 
 and unity, and of the foundnefs and or- 
 thodoxy of their faith. 
 
 - Difputes indeed, and dhTentions, arofe 
 in particular churches, even in the apoftor 
 lical age ; but they were not carried fo 
 far, as to be productive of any formal, or 
 open fchifms 5 nor did they difturb the 
 peace of other churches : But there con- 
 tinued a general harmony and unanimity, 
 throughout the churches of the whole 
 world, during the three firft centuries, 
 not only in doctrine; but, for the moft 
 part, in their religious rites and obfer- 
 vances like wife. 
 
 A difference in the obfervation of a day 
 was reckoned fo unhappy a thing, that 
 apoflolical practice and ufage, alledged on 
 both .fides, was icarce thought fufficient 
 to juftify the ,on.e half of the church, or 
 the other. And the difpute between the 
 Eaftern and Weftern churches, about 
 
 b 2 Cor. iii. i. 
 
 keeping
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 23 
 keeping Eafter^ was thought of fuch im- 
 portance, as to require the authority of a 
 general council to fettle it. 
 
 As different opinions arofe iu the 
 church, endeavours were conftantly ufed 
 to adjuft them ; and, as heretics fprang up, 
 councils, fome of which were general, 
 were fummoned to cenfure and fupprefs, 
 or to guard againil them. To this end 
 Creeds came to be framed, enlarged, and 
 multiplied; that the body of Chriftians 
 might know what to believe and profefs, 
 and be provided with antidotes againfl 
 falfe doctrines : All which proceeded from 
 this general principle, namely, the necef- 
 fity of maintaining the unity of the ca- 
 tholick faith, and of preferving it whole 
 -and undefiled. 
 
 - Schifms and divifions in the church, 
 were looked upon as of the moft deplo- 
 rable and dangerous conlequence ; and 
 thofe that caufed them were anathema- 
 tized, and avoided, as the pefts of fociety. 
 St. Cyprian laments fchifm as the greateft 
 vjl that can befal the church, and 
 C 4 reckons
 
 24 IRENICUM; Or, 
 
 reckons it to be a crime of fo deep a 
 die, as not to be expiated even by martyr- 
 dom '. When any diffentions or difputes 
 arofe, to difturb the peace of ae Chr> 
 ilian world, no pains were fpared to make 
 up the breach as foon as poflible. D/V 
 nyjius, bilhop of Alexandria, writing to 
 Novation, who had made fome difturbancc 
 in the church of Rome, exhorts him to 
 extinguifh the fchifm ; for that it was 
 better -to fufFer any thing, than that the 
 church of God fhould be rent in pieces k . 
 The ichifms of the Donatifts and Nova- 
 tlans are very ftriking inftances of the 
 fenfe of the church in general of fuch 
 matters in thofe days. And how feverely 
 they branded all fchifm and divifion, and 
 how induftrioufly they laboured to recon- 
 cile diflenting brethren, might eafily be 
 Ihewn from the writers of thofe times 1 . 
 
 Each particular church had authority 
 over its own members ; and all who lived 
 
 1 Cypr. De Unit ate EC deft*, 
 
 * Eufeb. Eccl. Hljl Tib. vi. cap. 45. 
 
 1 See Cave's Prim. Vbrif. p. 417. 
 
 within
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 25 
 
 within the pale of it were fubject t.p its 
 jurifdiction ; to the rule of faith, and mode 
 of worfhip which it prefcribed ; and to the, 
 rites and ceremonies ordained by it : And, 
 when doubts and differences arofe, its au- 
 fhority in explaining doctrines, and de- 
 ciding controverfies, was generally ac- 
 knowledged, reforted to, and acquiefced in. 
 
 Whet) falfe doctrines had crept into one 
 church, it was thought neceflary for other 
 churches, which had not been infected by 
 them, to remonftrate againft them, and 
 to declare and aflert their own principles : 
 And, when corruptions in principle, doc- 
 trine, and practice, became general in the 
 church of Rome, and had rendered the 
 terms of its communion finful, and there* 
 fore neceflary to be departed from, which 
 otherwife would have been unjuftifiable; 
 confeflions of faith were fet forth, in all 
 the reformed churches, to declare the pu- 
 rity of their doctrines, in oppolition to the 
 errors and corruptions of that church. 
 
 This was thought neceflary to be done, 
 among the reft, by the church of Eng- 
 land;
 
 2 6 I R E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 land\ and her authority for this purpofe, 
 though now called in queftion, was jufti- 
 fied by the practice of all other churches ; 
 and was in itfelf abfolutely indifpenfable, 
 in order to teftify to the world what fhe 
 profefled, and what me reformed from ; as 
 well as to maintain her own confiftency, 
 and unity in the faith. 
 
 This is what I come in the next place 
 to fpeak to. 
 
 How early and careful a regard was paid 
 to this great principle of unity at the Re- 
 formation^ appears from the proceedings of 
 the Reformers in that great work ; who 
 carried it on with all the prudence, expe- 
 dition, and attention, that a matter of fuch 
 importance required, and the temper of 
 the times would admit of. In the year 
 1 548, the fecond of King Edward's reign, 
 a new liturgy was compiled ; and the uni- 
 form ufe of it was- enjoined by aft of par- 
 liament ; and enforced from time to time 
 by fubfequent a&s of parliament, in that 
 Teigivand in the reigns of Queen Eliza- 
 beth, and Charles II. In the year 1552, 
 
 the
 
 IMPORTANCE <J/UNITY, &c. 27 
 the main doctrine of the church was fet 
 forth, in the articles of religion, which 
 were agreed upon by the hi/hops, and 
 other learned men, for the profefied pur- 
 pofe of avoiding diverjities of opinions, 
 and ejlablijhing confent concerning true re- 
 ligion. Thofe articles were revifed, and 
 without any material alterations, were 
 unanimoufly agreed upon, by the Arch- 
 bi/hops and Biftops of both provinces, 
 and the whole Clergy in convocation, in 
 the year 1562, for avoiding, as before, 
 diverjities of opinion, and Jlablifting confent 
 touching true religion. And they were put 
 forth by the Queen s authority. 
 
 Among other points of faith fettled by 
 thefe articles, they authorized the two 
 books of Homilies, which contained a godly 
 and wholefome doftrine neceffary for thofe 
 times ; and which the clergy were required 
 to ufe for the inftru&ion of the people; 
 whereby both the one, and the other, had 
 found principles inftilled into their minds, 
 and were kept fteady in them ; and thefe 
 very feafonable antidotes and prefer- 
 
 vatives
 
 28 I R E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 vatives againft the falfe doctrines of the 
 church of Rome on the one hand ; and 
 againft the wild notions of the enthuiiafts 
 of thofe times on the other. 
 
 And thus wife proviiion was made for 
 uniformity of worfhip, and unity of doc- 
 trine, in this church, at its firft eftablifh- 
 ment ; in which jt hath continued ever 
 fmce. Its government and difcipline was 
 then fettled likewife upon the fame plan, 
 on which it ftands at prefent : And, upon 
 the whole, our Jerufalem is built as a city, 
 that is at unity in itfelf. She doth not 
 boaft of perfection, any more than other 
 human conftitutions. Neverthekfs, as far 
 as foe hath already attained,Jhe walketb by 
 the fame rule, according to the apoftle's 
 advice n . She hath been ever fteady in her 
 principles ; but not fo rigid and bigoted, 
 as to pay no attention to improvement : 
 for all unprejudiced perfons mufr. aljow, 
 that her late divines have actually im- 
 proved upon thofe who went before them, 
 
 *Pf. cxxii, 3. "Phil. iii. 16.
 
 The IMPORT A KCEof UNITY, &c. 29 
 
 in their explanations of fome of her doc- 
 trines; which being of a more abftrufe 
 and fpeculative nature ; and being judged 
 by many to be of lefs importance, and to 
 be fuch as may be held either way, with- 
 out detriment to the true faith ; if our di- 
 vines of later times have underftood thofe 
 doctrines with more latitude, and have put 
 a more liberal conftrucYion upon them, 
 than they had before been generally under- 
 ftood in; and if all are allowed to abound 
 in their own fenfe of thofe doctrines ; this 
 wrong, if it can be fo called, may furely 
 be forgiven them. The doctrines I mean, 
 are thofe chiefly which relate to predejli- 
 nation and grace. It is well known, and 
 hath been often proved to the fatisfaelion 
 - of all unprejudiced perfons, that the 
 church never meant in her articles, or 
 elfewhere, to lay down any reftrictive de- 
 finition of thofe doctrines ; but was more 
 wifely planned upon fuch catholick and 
 comprehensive principles, as the moft mo- 
 derate of all denominations might em- 
 brace 5 fleering a middle courfe between 
 
 the 
 
 a'.'- i
 
 3 a IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 the Lutherans and Cahtntfls on the one 
 hand, and between the Cahinifts- and the 
 Arminlans on the other; but never for- 
 mally, or exprcfsly, lifting under the 
 banner of, or attaching herfelf to, either 
 party. Her doctrines were fettled before 
 any of her divines went to Geneva, or 
 elfe where abroad. When they returned, 
 Ihe had no reafon either to condemn, or 
 efpoufe, the dolrines they preached ; nor 
 thofe of Arminius, who appeared after- 
 wards. Whatever differences arofe with 
 regard to thofe doctrines, the church of 
 "England never fell into divilions, nor ba- 
 nifhed from her communion, much lefs 
 perfecuted, any on account of them ; as 
 fome foreign proteftant churches have 
 done ; and as we daily fee is done among 
 fome of our fe&aries at home. 
 
 On the contrary, though the zeal of the 
 old Puritans for the do&rines of Calvin 
 carried them to fuch lengths, that they 
 branded the moderate opinions of thofe, 
 who differed from them, as popifli, or 
 tending to popery ; yet thofe opinions 
 
 grew
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &V. 31 
 grew by degrees to be the general doctrines 
 of our Englifh divines ; and that without 
 noife or diflurbance ; and I hope too 
 without having given any caufe to fufpect, 
 they have fince been, or at this time are, 
 more popifhly inclined than formerly. 
 
 No imputation of popery can lie againft. 
 thofe who hold thefe doctrines either way ; 
 becaufe, if there are fome in the church of 
 Rome, who underftand them in the mo- 
 derate fenfe, there are others in that 
 church^ the Mollntfts I mean, who main- 
 tain the moft rigid fenfe of them ; and 
 thofe Proteftants, who agree with them 
 in this refpect, would not therefore be 
 thought to verge towards popery. Pro- 
 teftants in general agree with papifts in 
 doctrines more fundamental than thefe. 
 
 I believe the Methodijls alone, in whom 
 the old Puritans feem to be revived, make 
 the rigid fenfe of thefe doctrines, to be, in 
 a manner, the fole teft of the church, of 
 England, and even of Chriftianity too. 
 Whence they allow falvation to none but 
 thofe of their own perfuafion. 
 
 I Loud
 
 32 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 Loud invectives have been made by 
 others againft our church, on account of 
 the dark, uncertain manner, in which it 
 leaves thefe doctrines* This the more 
 candid would interpret into a latitude, as 
 it was intended, wifely calculated to com- 
 prehend perfons who differed in their 
 judgements concerning thefe abftrufd 
 points, which confefledly do not affect 
 the eifence, or well-being, of Chriftia- 
 nity ; while its fundamental doctrines are 
 fo clearly and explicitly laid down, as not 
 to admit of any uncertainty. 
 
 There is yet another charge, which 
 ftrikes at the very vitals of the church of 
 England, and which it is proper here td 
 take notice of. It hath been confidently 
 aflerted, " That the church of England* 
 " properly fo called, is not now exift- 
 " ing." And, if fo, there is an end, 
 not only of its unity, but of its very 
 Being. But, God be praifed ! this is no 
 more than an affertion, though fb bold a 
 
 See Confe/tonal, p. 244. $d edit. 
 
 one,
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 33 
 one, that it might as well be faid, the fun 
 doth not (hine at noon-day. The church 
 of England not only exifts, but fiourifhes 
 likewife, in fpite of all the efforts of its 
 enemies, outward and inward, to deftroy 
 it : And, we truft, the gates of heJL will 
 never prevail again/} if. 
 
 If the author of this aflertion knows 
 thofe who profefs themfelves of the 
 church of England, but who have de- 
 parted from her doctrines, and have ef- 
 poufed tenets diametrically oppoiite to 
 them; he doth not furely mean to call 
 this the fenfe of the church of England -, 
 nor to denominate this church from fuch 
 apoftate members of it. 
 
 I proceed, TMntfy, to obferve, that not 
 only all the other protetfant churches, and 
 divines, at and after the Reformation ; but 
 even the old Non-conformifts here in Eng- 
 land, had a deep fenfe of the importance 
 of unity ; ftrongly remonflrated againft 
 fchifm, and condemned it, as a great fin, 
 and heinous tranfgreffion. 
 
 D We
 
 34 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 We have feen what the fenfe of the pri- 
 mitive church was in this refpedt. If we 
 come down to later times, we (hall find, 
 that the mofl eminent and learned foreign 
 divines, iince the Reformation, who can 
 leaft be fufpected of partiality to this 
 church, were of the fame fentiments. 
 
 No one will object to Calvin's teftimony, 
 
 which is very remarkable to this purpofe. 
 
 ' God," fays he, " fets fuch a value upon 
 
 " the communion of his church, that he 
 
 " looks upon him, as an apoftate from his 
 
 " religion, who wilfully feparates from, 
 
 and breaks the unity of,* any chriftian 
 
 " fociety, which hath the true miniftry 
 
 of the word and facraments." And 
 
 farther he faith, " that reparation from 
 
 ' fuch a church is a denial of God and 
 
 " Chrift ; a deftruction of his truth ; 
 
 <* and a facrilegious and perfidious breach 
 
 of the marriage between Chrift and his 
 
 " fpoufe V* And he enlarges on the fub- 
 
 With regard to the church Q{ England; 
 , and Bullinger^ and all the learned in 
 
 f Inftit. lib. iv. cap, i. fet. io. 
 
 Europe,
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 35 
 Europe, condemned the feparation from it ; 
 and its communion was owned by all the 
 proteftant, and reformed churches abroad. 
 The firft Puritans at home, fome of whom 
 were fierce and contentious enough, did 
 not yet chufe to leave the church : But 
 Sampfon, and Humphreys, and Fox, and fe- 
 veral others of the moft learned and re- 
 fpectable among them, lived and died in 
 its communion - 3 and were fuffered to 
 preach, and to enjoy their preferments, to 
 the number of five hundred, though they 
 did not conform to it 1. Even Cartwright 
 himfelf declared on his death-bed, " That 
 " he ferioufly lamented the unneceflary 
 " troubles he had caufed in the church, by 
 " the fchifm he had been the great fomenter 
 " of: And wimed he was to begin his life 
 again, that he might teftify to the 
 * world the diflike he had to his former 
 '* ways'." 
 
 * Bifhop Maddux's Anfwer to Neale, p. 1 4.0. // feqq. 
 ' Strypis Life of Archbiftiop Wbitgift> book iv. 
 ch. 28. 
 
 D 2 The
 
 36 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 The firft form of difcipline, that was fet 
 up by the Non-conformi/ls, imported, that 
 it was confident with the peace of the 
 church *. And many minifters, who fcru- 
 pled fubfcription, declared that its doctrine, 
 and difcipline, and worfhip, were found, 
 godly, and edifying ; and contained no- 
 thing HI them to juftify feparation, and 
 make a breach in the unity of the church: 
 Nor were there any, who remonftrated 
 more ftrongly, or in feverer terms, againft 
 the fin and mifchief of the fchifm that 
 was then made, than fome of the Non- 
 conformifts themfelves. Though they feared 
 to fubfcribe, yet they would not feparate ; 
 and they even wrote againft thofe of the 
 feparation, and that with fuch zeal, that 
 Mr. HllderJIjam^ a celebrated writer among 
 them, was called, The maul of the 
 Brownifts *. It may be too galling, to re- 
 peat the expreflions of many of them. It 
 is fufficient to obferve in general, that in 
 
 Fulltr's Ch.Hift. book ix. p. 140, 
 c Archbiihop Tenniforfs Argument for Union, in 
 London Cafes, p. 474. 
 
 the
 
 7^^ IMPORTANCE of UNITY, C^r. 37 
 
 the graveft, and beft-tempered confutation 
 of the Separatifts, which was made in the 
 name of the Non-conformifts, it is faid, that 
 they incurred the moft fhameful and 
 odious reproach of manifeft fchifm. And 
 farther, fay they, " We hold them all to 
 " be in a dangerous flate; we are loath to 
 ** fay in a damnable ftate, as long as they 
 " continue in this fchifm V 
 
 Even the Sefaratifts themfelvcs allowed 
 the doctrine of our church to be found; 
 and that feparation from it was not jufli- 
 fiable for all the blemifhes, imperfections, 
 and corruptions, which they alledged it 
 laboured under. 
 
 The Non-confonntftsy on the other hand, 
 maintained, that nothing could juftify fe- 
 paration from the church, but fuch cor- 
 ruptions as overthrew the being, or confti- 
 tution of it : And that granting there were 
 many and great corruptions in it, they 
 were not fuch as did overthrow its confti- 
 tution : And they made uie of feveral 
 
 B Bifliop tyVrgfaft Unreafonablenefs of Separa- 
 tion, p. 30. 
 
 *J>3 arguments 
 
 301343
 
 38 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 arguments to prove, that the church of 
 England was a true church of Chrift ; and 
 fuch a one, as from which, whofoever 
 wittingly, and continually feparateth him.- 
 felf, cutteth himfelf off from Chrift w . 
 
 In the difputes between the prejbyterian 
 divines and the Independents, they mutu- 
 ally charged each other with fchifm ; into 
 which the ajfembly of divines refolved the 
 departure of the diflenting brethren from 
 their rule of church-government ; and 
 their fetting up of feparate congregations; 
 The Independents, on the contrary, aU 
 ledging, that the great caufe of fchifm had 
 been that ftricT: obligation of all to uniform 
 mity ; which the affembly of divines had 
 enjoined; and which they complained 
 was excrcifing tyranny over men's con- 
 iciences*. And yet at a meeting of dif- 
 fenting preachers, held in the year 1665, 
 about the lawfulnefs of communicating 
 with the church of Engla?id, one of then> 
 
 " Stillingjleety ib. p. 36. 
 
 * StilKngfletfs Sermon on Phil. Hi. 16. p. 34. 
 
 relates,
 
 tte IMPORTANCE ONITY,. 39 
 relates, that he had brought in twenty rea- 
 fons, to prove the lawfulnefs of it : And 
 no one of the brethren, as he adds, feemed 
 to diflent, but to take the reafons to be 
 valid >. 
 
 But farther: Such was the fenfe that 
 the refpecUve parties, who engaged In tht 
 folemn league and covenant, had of the im- 
 portance of unity in the church, that the 
 chief defign of it was to unite the three 
 kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ire- 
 land, in doctrine, wormip, difcipline, and 
 government. Accordingly they fripulated, 
 that they would endeavour to bring the 
 churches of God in the three kingdoms 
 to the nearefl conjunction and uniformity 
 in religion ; confefling of faith ; form of 
 church-government; and directory for 
 wormip and catechifing that they might 
 live in faith and love remain conjoined 
 in a firm peace and union to all pofterity 
 and not furTer themfelves to be divided, or 
 withdrawn from, this bleiTed union and 
 conjuaftion but conftantly continue 
 
 7 /. p. 21, 
 
 P 4 therein
 
 40 I K E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 therein againfl all oppofition ; and promote 
 the fame againft all lets and impediments 
 whatfoever. And the obfervation of this 
 league and covenant they engaged to en- 
 force by all the means in their power. 
 And they were moft certainly right in 
 the general principle, which they went 
 upon. 
 
 Mr. Hales is well known to have treated 
 fchifm as lightly as moft men ; and his 
 trat on that fubject was eagerly caught 
 up, as foon as k appeared; and much flrefs 
 hath been laid upon his authority ever 
 fince. And yet in that very trad: he faith, 
 " That communion is the very flrength 
 *' and ground of all fociety; and fchifm is 
 " i ecclefiaftical fedition and that to break 
 " the knot of union is a crime hardly 
 " pardonable." No enemy to the authors 
 of fchifm can place this fin in a worfe 
 ' light, than their friends have done. 
 
 Bimop Burners moderation, as a divine, 
 is acknowledged by all; and yet he treats 
 fchifm as a very grievous fin. He reckons 
 it, both in its nature and conferences, to 
 
 be
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 4.1 
 be one of the greateft of (ins ; which dif- 
 folves chriftiatt union ; diflocates the mem- 
 bers of Chrift's body ; creates needlefs di^ 
 fhirbances in the church ; gives occafion 
 to all that alienation of mind, all thofe 
 ram cenfures, and unjuft judgements, 
 which do arife from fuch divisions ; which 
 gives fcandal to the weak ; and which no- 
 thing can juftify, but the impofing of un- 
 lawful terms of communion 2 . But this, 
 if it ever hath been laid to the charge of the 
 church of England^ yet never hath been, 
 nor ever can be, proved againft it. The 
 old diffenters were ready to fubfcribe all 
 our doctrinal articles, and profefled greater 
 zeal for many of them, than they allowed 
 fome of our own divines did. Alas] how 
 are thefe people fallen from their firft 
 love ! Were any of their fore- fathers now 
 living, with what vehemence and indig- 
 nation would they upbraid their fons for 
 their degeneracy, in refuting to fubfcribe 
 
 * Bifhop Burntt on Article XXXIV. Of the fin- 
 fulnefs and mifchief of fchifm more at large, fee 
 fchifm. 
 
 any
 
 4.2 I R E N I C U M : Or, 
 
 any of them? They themfelves acknow* 
 lodge, that their religious fentiments are 
 greatly changed from what they were for- 
 merly. I wifh they could fay, they are 
 changed for the better. All true fous of 
 the church of England muft conclude, 
 that the change is for the worfe : And God 
 forbid, that fuch corruptions in the funda- 
 mental doctrines of Chriftianity, and fuch 
 defections from the taith, as are fo noto- 
 rious among us, fhould be countenanced 
 by law ; the fanclion of which was never 
 obtained for principles of this kind in any 
 chriftian country : Much lefs I hope will 
 it be grafted, in any degree, to principles 
 fo different from, I might fay. fo opposite 
 to, thofe of the church by law eftablifhed. 
 
 Our church (till perfeveres in the fame 
 plan of unity in found dodtrine, and uni- 
 formity of pure worfhip, as (he was at firft 
 eftabliihed upon ; agreeably to the nature 
 and genius of the gofpel. 
 
 By purfuing this plan, (he not only en- 
 deavours to preferve her own members from 
 diflblvin.7 the bend of this union ; but (be 
 
 farther
 
 *he IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 43 
 farther extends her care to thofe that have 
 fcparated from her ; in order to prevent that 
 reparation from becoming total. They at 
 prefent profefs to agree with her in doc- 
 trine; and me wimes to preferve that 
 agreement* being loath to part with them 
 entirely. It is true, the ligament is but 
 (lender : But, while it lafts, it is poffible it 
 may gain ftrength in time. But, if it be 
 cut offj we may then bid farewel to all 
 hopes of a reconciliation. And, if that 
 prove to be the cafe, the guilt will not fall 
 upon her. Let them look to it, who force 
 themfelves from her embraces. If fhe 
 Were to confult her own feparate intereft 
 only, ihe would connive at (he would 
 encourage the DuTenters petition for ex- 
 emption from fublcribing her articles: 
 And, if they underftood the intereft of 
 their own body, they would not defire it ; 
 as every feet of them would -dwindle, and 
 fall into decay, the fatter for it. 
 
 This they may be affured of, from the 
 
 experience of former ages, and from the 
 
 obfervation of thtffe, whofe opinions they 
 
 can have no objection to. It was the remark 
 
 D6 of
 
 44 IRENICUM: Or, 
 of Socrates, the ecclefiaftical hiflorian, ou 
 occafion of the fchifms of the Brians, No- 
 variant, and others ; that, when a breach is 
 once made in the church, it feldom refts 
 there : Butthofe who made it begin a-fre(h 
 quarrel with each other, and upon very 
 flight pretences become divided among 
 themfelves *. 
 
 This hath been confirmed in all ages; 
 and they may fee abundant proofs of it 
 in the prefent. It was then confirmed in 
 fad, when the Novations, and Donati/ls* 
 fubdivided themfelves ; and cut them- 
 felves, as well as the whole church, mint** 
 1atim, and frujlum de frujlo, as St. Aujl'm 
 complains 1 *. For a judicious hiflorian ob- 
 ferves, " That as the Novatians feparated 
 " from the antient orthodox church ; fo 
 did the fecT: of the ^uarto-declmani, from 
 
 a 'H a > 
 
 Xwv 3ii%ji:igGvlo. Socr. Hift. Ecclef. lib. v. c. 20. Vide 
 etiam c. 21. 23, 24. 
 
 b Per tot divifiones feipfos minutatim concide- 
 runt. Aug. contra Parm. lib. ii. cap. j8. Praecidens 
 de frnfto fruftum, et non fe dolens ab integritate prze- 
 cifum. Aug. enarr. in Pf. xxxvi. 2. 
 
 2 the
 
 IMPORTANCE 
 
 " the Novatians : And the Donates were 
 ** fubdivided into the Rogatrfts, Maximini* 
 *' anifts, Parmenianijls, Cirren/h, Cinwn- 
 " celliones, and many other fedts. And the 
 " fame thing," fays he, " have we feen 
 * to happen in our own time. The Ltf- 
 << iherans, after having feparated from the 
 " reft of the proteflant churches, were 
 immediately fplit into Flacclans, Ofian* 
 " drians, and the like. We fee," as he 
 farther obferves, " the Englifh Puritans 
 ** are feparating from the church, and 
 " from one another every day. But, above 
 " all, the Analaptijls are remarkable on 
 *< this account; who have fb many feds 
 * fwarming among them, that fcarce any 
 < can reckon their number, or names c ." 
 
 When the church of England had been 
 fuppreffed by the parliament ; and the pref- 
 byterian difcipline, fo highly applauded, 
 and fo long and earneftly contended for, 
 was fet up in its flead; it likewife, in its 
 turn, foon experienced diffenters from it- 
 felf, as the church of England had done 
 
 c Brandt's Hlftory of the Reformation, vol. II. 
 book xxiv. p. 28. 
 
 D/ before j
 
 46 IRENICUM: fa, 
 
 before : Who though at firft but inconfi-* 
 aerable in number, yet in a few years 
 grew, and multiplied fo fait, ftill dividing 
 as they increafed, that " they brake into 
 * e fractions of fra&ions ;" and fuch fwarms 
 of fectaries of all forts appeared, as were 
 never known in this nation, either before, 
 or fince. " Inibmuch that the miniftera 
 *' of the province of London exprefled the 
 " fiate of things, in the year 1647, in this 
 " manner : Inftead of unity and uniformity 
 ' in matters of religion, we are torn in pieces 
 " with difiraftions, fchifms, feparations, di+ 
 " vifans, and fubdivijions d " 
 
 The firft fruits of the toleration, which 
 appeared among the diffenters, were their 
 quarrels and difputes with each other, on 
 points of fmall importance e . 
 
 The Methodijls, we all know, had fcarcc 
 appeared, before they began to be divided 
 under theit refpe&ive leaders ; and they 
 continue to be more and more divided 
 ftill. And the Independents fet up on the 
 principle of divifion, diametrically oppofite 
 
 * See archbiflibp Tenifcttt Argument for Union, in 
 London Cafes, p; 462. 
 
 e .SteCalamy's Life of Qaxtfr, Aw9 1689, etfetf* 
 
 to
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 47 
 to that of the gofpel. For, in the congre- 
 gational way, every congregation is a com- 
 plete and feparate church ; and there may 
 be as many religions as churches. But as 
 they, and the diflenters in general, are better 
 acquainted with their own hiftory, and 
 conftitutions, than I am able to inform 
 them 5 I need only appeal to themfelves for 
 the truth of what is here advanced, and the 
 confequences of it. They themfelves feel, 
 and complain, that their intereft, upon the 
 whole, is on the decline ; which cannot 
 more juftly be attributed to any one caufe, 
 nor to any one more natural, than to their 
 own differences. 
 
 The weaknefs of the independent govern- 
 ment, and its inefficiency to fupport itfelf, 
 was experienced in New-ExgtanJ, as by 
 others, fo particularly by Mr. Roger Willi- 
 ams 5 who went on refining, and proceeded 
 in his feparation from the church ofSakm, 
 of which he had been preacher, fo far, as at 
 laft to difTolve his fociety ; declaring, that 
 every one mould have liberty to worfhip 
 God according to the light oi his own con- 
 fcieirce *. 
 
 * StilKngjleet) Unreafonab. of Separation, p. 113. 293. 
 D 8 That
 
 48 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 "^That this kind of .church government 
 fubfifts at all, much lefs flourifhes, there, 
 or elfewhere, cannot be owing to its own 
 conftitution, asfuth-, which is fo ill cal- 
 culated for that of a national church f . 
 
 No 
 
 f This fuggefls the following remarks on the ftate 
 of the church of England, in America. 
 
 Firft, It is well known, that the church of England 
 in that country hath many difficulties to ftruggle with : 
 Notwithftanding it is obfervable, that, like the primi- 
 tive church, {he thrives under her preffures, having 
 been generally gaining ground there, among all th6 
 other denominations of Chriftians, with which (he is 
 intermixt. A moft manifeft proof of the fuperior ex- 
 cellence of her conftitution ! 
 
 But, Secondly, Her prefent fituation is very critical, 
 as her clergy have for fome time been under a ftate of 
 perfecution in fome of the colonies, who have thought 
 fit to revenge their quarrels with the mother-country 
 upon them ; which (hews what fpirit they are of. This 
 renders the cafe of the former truly deplorable; but 
 yet, we truft, not quite defperate. For, 
 
 Thirdly, As the Divine Providence often brings 
 good out of evil, they will have a comfortable profpec-l 
 of deliverance, by the intei pofition of government j 
 when it is to be hoped the preient difturbances will end 
 in peace; and the refpedlive rights of the mother- 
 country, and her colonies, will be thoroughly fettled. 
 And all other grievances being removed, we may 
 humbly hope likewife, that the diftrcfTed church ofEng- 
 t be overlooked : But that foe will be pi ced 
 i upon
 
 *The IMPORTANCE C/UNITY, GV. 49 
 No one remonftrated more, nor more' 
 ftrongly, nor indeed wrote better, againft 
 the great mifchief of divifions and fepara- 
 tions, than Mr. Richard Baxter ; the fatal 
 effects of which he foretels in thefe words. 
 " Separation," fays he, "will ruin the fe- 
 ' parated churches themfelves at laft. It 
 will admit of no confiftency. Parties 
 will arife in the feparated churches, and 
 feparate again from them, till they are 
 
 upon an equal footing with all other proteftant 
 Churches ; and be allowed the common privilege, which 
 none other is deprived of, the ordaining of her owa 
 minifters. For which purpofc it is necefiary (he fhould 
 have an eftablifliment of bifhops, inverted with proper 
 authority over their own clergy ; which is all that is 
 tlefired ; and without any fecular power whatfoever. 
 This grant, fo juft and reafonable in itfelf, and which 
 hath fo long been folicited for, would at this time be a 
 feafonable relief and recompence to the poor clergy, 
 for their fufferings in the caufe of government : Who, 
 as by principle they are, and, in thefe trying times, have 
 approved themfelves to be, well affected to our go^ 
 vernment, in the ftate, as well as the church ; this 
 would give them more confequence, and better enabte 
 them to preferve peace, and promote loyalty in, the co- 
 lonies hereafter. The hands of government would 
 lilcewife be ftrengthened, by their mutual fupport, and 
 by the confequent increafe of fo confiderable a body 
 of their beft friends. 
 
 E " dif-
 
 50 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 w diflblved g ." " Men may chufe one paftor 
 " to-day, and another to-morrow, and fb 
 '* turn round, till they are giddy, and run 
 44 themfelves out of breath till they 
 ** fit down, and reft in irreligion and 
 44 atheifm h ." Would God, this obferva- 
 tion were not too truly verified in our 
 days ! 
 
 In this view, it is a queftion, Whether 
 the toleration, in effect, hath proved of 
 all that benefit to the diffenters, which 
 was expected ; as probably it was a means 
 of weakening the diflenting intereft, which 
 feems to have been rather on the decline 
 ever fmce : And therefore, if it were ex- 
 tended farther, I do not apprehend this 
 indulgence would be detrimental to the 
 church, any othervvife, than as it would hurt 
 religion in general, among all forts and de- 
 nominations of chriftians ; and bring on a 
 greater relaxation of religious principle, 
 which is growing upon us too faft already, 
 Divifion, it is true, weakens the main 
 body; but, as long as the feverai parts are 
 
 Unrtafonabtenefs of Separation, ib. p. 113, 
 #. p. 203. 
 
 divided
 
 <The IMPORT A KCEof UNIT Y, Sfc. 51 
 
 divided from each other, they weaken 
 themfelves more : And our common Chri- 
 ftianiry fuffers between them. 
 
 But the church of England hath found 
 out the fecret of defeating the ill effects 
 of the divifions made from it, in a great 
 meafure. Charity is political wifdom. 
 The moderation of government in church 
 and ftate, and its forbearance in putting 
 the laws in execution, which ftill remain 
 in force againft the diflenters, hath in a 
 manner difarmed them. And there is be- 
 fides, by a kind difpofition of Providence, a 
 ftrong tendency in every wound made, in 
 the political, as well as natural body, to 
 clofe and heal itfelf; whereby it contri- 
 butes to repair the damage it hath done. 
 
 I have been led into theie reflections on 
 our divifions, and their confequences, 
 taken in a political view. I cannot quit 
 this fubjecl without considering them in 
 their religious nature, and confequences 
 like wife. 
 
 Schifm, as we have feen, and as it al- 
 ways hath been underftood, is fo odious in 
 E 2 its
 
 52 I REN I CUM: Or 9 
 
 its nature, and fo invidious in its application, 
 that the charge and imputation of it hath 
 of late been laid afide ; and the very term it- 
 felf in a manner quite dropt ; out of polite- 
 nefs, I prefume, towards thofe who might 
 be thought liable to it : And the aft of to- 
 leration, having given the diflenters a kind 
 of eftablimment, may have induced them, 
 and others to think that charge not to be 
 now applicable to them : And hence they 
 have come to think our religious dif- 
 ferences, and diverfities of opinion, to have . 
 little or no harm in them ; infomuch that . 
 a very coniiderable body of proteftant dif- 
 fenters, who would be thought to make a 
 majority of the whole, feem to queflion, 
 whether there be any evil in them or not. 
 *' If diverfities of opinion be an evil" 
 fay they, in the Cafe of proteftant difienting 
 minifters, and fchool- mailers, addrefled to 
 parliament in the year 1773. 
 
 I mould be glad to draw a veil over a 
 matter of this delicacy, and be extremely 
 forry to rip up any old fores uuneccffarily. 
 But the Ikinning .them over too foon, 
 
 before
 
 *The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 53 
 
 before they are throughly healed, is a falfe 
 tendernefs, and a flattering of the com- 
 plaint, inftead of removing it. It is better 
 to fearch, and probe the wound to the 
 bottom ; to deal honeftly, though harmly, 
 where the cafe requires fuch treatment ; 
 and to call things by their right names, 
 though they mould not be the moft plea- 
 fan t to the ear. 
 
 Neither time, nor prefcription, nor 
 the opinions of men, can alter the na- 
 ture of things ; nor is an evil, grown 
 into inveterate habit, to be looked upon 
 as cured. What was fchifm two hundred 
 years ago, is fchifm ftill. We have feen 
 what a grievous (in this is, in the fcrip- 
 ture account ; and in the eftimatiou of all 
 former ages. No favourable views, in 
 which of late it hath been reprefented, 
 can render it in the leaft more innocent 
 at prefent. The toleration can have no 
 efficacy for the overcoming of its malig- 
 nancy. Indeed, the very term itfelf fup- 
 pofes its continuance as a grievance at leaft ; 
 and every grievance, as fuch, is an evil. 
 E 3 And
 
 54 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 And as a grievance , it is tolerated; fince 
 it neither can, nor ought, confidently 
 with the laws of the gofpel, any more 
 than with the laws of the land, to be re- 
 moved. 
 
 I do not undertake to charge any of our 
 proteftant diHenting brethren with the 
 formal guilt of this fin : But it becomes 
 them very ferioufly to confider themfelves, 
 how far any of them are chargeable with 
 it. To their own m after they ft and , or fall. 
 This I am confident of, that the church 
 of TLngland is very fafe from having given 
 any juft caufe far our divifions. She hath 
 never driven any from her ; and the dif- 
 fenfers themfelves have acknowledged the 
 lawfulnefs of her communion, by their 
 conforming occafionally to it. She may 
 therefore wafh her hands from any guilt 
 in this refpedt. 
 
 Great allowances are undoubtedly to be 
 made for thofe who have been born, and 
 brought up, in other communions, even 
 fuppoiing them to be fchifmatical, being 
 fincere and well-meaning Chriflians ; as I 
 hope, and believe, they in general are ; and 
 
 withal
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 55 
 
 withal zealous of the traditions of their fa- 
 thers. Notwithstanding, the fin itfelf is, 
 in its own nature, (till the fame. But there 
 are others, of whom we cannot think fo 
 favourably. Many, too many, I fear, there 
 are, who, not content to tread in the foot> 
 fleps of their fore-fathers, have dljfented 
 even from them, as well as from the 
 church ; and that in fome of the moil ef- 
 fential doctrines of Chriftianity ; which 
 greatly aggravates the guilt of their fchifm. 
 And there are others ftill, Ibme of whom 
 are gone out from among ourfelves, ivan^ 
 deringJlarS) who defplfe dominion, fpeak evil 
 of dignities y and fcparats themf elves ; and 
 become authors and abettors of new feels; 
 as if we were not fufficiently divided al- 
 ready. Thefe all think themfelves fully 
 juilified, by taking fhelter under the acT: of 
 toleration. But that is no protection to 
 them from the laws of God, though it is 
 from the law of the land. We can only 
 leave them, and their followers, to the 
 mercy of God, and their own reflections ; 
 and to the feelings of their own confciences; 
 E 4 whicli
 
 S 6 I REN 1C UM: Or, 
 
 which it is to be hoped will difpofe 
 them to think more foberly of them- 
 felves, and to return to Chrift's flock, 
 from which they have ftrayed. 
 
 As it hath been (hewn, that the firft care 
 of the church of England was to eflablifh 
 unity of doctrine, and uniformity of wor- 
 fhip in itfelf, fo eflential to its conftitu- 
 tion ; I come now, 
 
 Fourthly, To confider the right, wif- 
 dom, and utility, of requiring fubfcrip- 
 tion to its articles of faith and religion, in 
 order to this end. 
 
 It hath been already obferved, that it 
 was the practice of all the reformed 
 churches, at their firft eftablimment, to 
 draw up and fettle fome certain confef- 
 iions of faith, as the ftandard of the doc- 
 trines they profeffed, in oppofition to the 
 errors of the church of Rotne", and as a 
 teftimony to the world of the foundnefs 
 of their own principles ; which they re- 
 quired their own members, either expli- 
 citly, or tacitly, to give their aflent to ; 
 and which they likewife folicited, and 
 
 generally 
 5
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 57 
 
 generally obtained, from other reformed 
 churches. 
 
 And from this general practice, the 
 church of England was countenanced, and 
 fufficiently juflified, in doing the fame. 
 Nay, this put her under an unavoidable 
 neceffity of conforming to all the other 
 churches of the Reformation in this re- 
 fpect. For, had (he omitted to follow 
 their example, it would not be known 
 how far fhe meant to carry the Reforma- 
 tion. Her own members would not have 
 known, what particular doctrines fhe 
 maintained ; nor what erroneous opinions, 
 or corrupt practices, fhe rejected, and pro- 
 tefted againft. And, had (he (hewn any 
 backwardnefs in this refpedt, there would 
 have been juft caufe to fufpect her incli- 
 nation to reform at all that fhe halted 
 between two opinions, and had ftill 
 a fecret hankering after the church of 
 Rome. 
 
 That fome provifion of this kind was 
 ufeful and wife, at the critical juncture 
 in which it was made ; in order to reftore 
 
 the
 
 5 3 JRENICUM: Or, 
 
 the faith to its original purity, and to 
 purge it from the defilements which it had 
 contracted ; and was expedient, and even 
 neceflary to be continued, in the trying 
 times which have fucceeded, to preferve it 
 in the fame pure and found ftate which it 
 had been reftored to ; any thinking perfon 
 will fbon be convinced, who confiders, the 
 importance of the Reformation ; the diffi- 
 culties which the firil reformers had to 
 encounter; and the dangers with which 
 this church hath ever fince been fur- 
 rounded : And it is owing to the diftance 
 of time ; and thofe difficulties having 
 been furmounted; and to the dangers being 
 not fo apparent ; that many in thefe days 
 do not apprehend the neceflity of conti- 
 nuing the meafures that have been taken; 
 which, if they were to enter more deeply 
 into them, they would find to be perhaps 
 no lefs ufeful and neceflary ilill ; if not 
 more fo, from new dangers and difficulties, 
 arifing from the quarters of infidelity, as 
 well as from popery itfelf. The more, 
 and the greater our dangers are ; the more, 
 
 ia
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 59 
 In common prudence, we fhould be upon 
 our guard ; and the more collected in our- 
 felves, to withftand them. The more 
 dangerous and numerous the enemies of 
 the crofs of Chrift are; the more we 
 mould hold faft the profeflion of our 
 faith ; and the more we mould be united 
 in it. 
 
 It hath been already obferved, that the 
 chief proviiion which our church hath 
 made, for preferving an unity of faith and 
 doctrine, is that of the Thirty -nine ar- 
 ticles of religion ; the profefled defign of 
 which is, as before obferved from the im- 
 port of their title, for the avoiding of dl~ 
 verjities of opinion, and for the Jlabli/hing of 
 confent concerning true religion. And they 
 are of excellent ufe for this purpofe, as in 
 fact they prove to have been. Even with 
 refpect to inert matter, the firmnefs of it 
 confifts in the cohefion of its parts ; and 
 in two material bodies, the more points of 
 contact in which they meet, the more 
 they adhere to each other. 
 
 Now,
 
 60 I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 Now, the articles of the church of Eng* 
 land may be confidered as fo many points 
 of contact, in which its members unite, 
 and adhere to each other ; and the whole 
 body is kept together in its original ftate ; 
 and hath, without any confiderable altera- 
 tion, been preferved in that ftate ever fmce 
 the Reformation. 
 
 The author of the Confeffional owns it te 
 be " a fact, in which our historical writers 
 ** of all parties agree, that, during the 
 " reign of Queen Elizabeth, and fome part 
 " of the reign of King James I. there was 
 no difference between the epifcopal 
 " churchmen and the Puritans in matters 
 "of doftrine 1 ." And again, fays he, 
 " The doctrinal articles were fubfcribed 
 '" by all parties, without referve ; becaufe 
 " the opinions of all parties were tolerably 
 " uniform, with refped to the fubjeci: 
 " matter of them k ." 
 
 He might have purfued this branch of 
 hiftory farther ; and found, that this uni- 
 formity was continued till the church 
 
 1 Confejjional, p. 270. k Ib. p. 281. 
 
 itfelf,
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 61 
 
 kfelf, together with fubfcriptyon to its ar- 
 ticles, and all its other ordinances, was 
 fupprefled under the Commonwealth ; and 
 the prefbyterian and independent difcipline 
 was fubftituted in its Head That ful> 
 fcription to the articles in general was re- 
 vived at the reftoration of the government 
 in church and ftate That on the tolera- 
 tion it was enacted by law, that the doc- 
 trinal articles were (till to be fubfcribed 
 and that accordingly they have been fub- 
 fcribed, or have been fuppofed to be fub- 
 fcribed, by all of whom fubfcription is re- 
 quired, to this very day. Whence it ap- 
 pears, there was ftill little or no difference 
 between the epifcopal churchmen, and the 
 diflenters in matters of doctrine and that 
 ^the opinions of all parties were all along 
 tolerably uniform, with refpect to the fub- 
 jeft-matter of the articles. And they 
 have thus proved an effectual means of 
 preventing diverfities of opinion, and ejla- 
 blifaing confent concerning true religion: 
 And that muft be deemed the general con- 
 fent of this church and nation, as long as 
 
 they
 
 62 I RE NIC UM; Or, 
 
 they continue to be fubfcribed ; whatever 
 may be infinuated, or pleaded to the con- 
 trary, from the diverfities of opinion en- 
 tertained by particular perfons, often in 
 contradiction to their own fubfcriptions ; 
 which cannot in juftice be laid to the ac- 
 count of the church. And upon thefe 
 grounds, and in this fenfe, thofe divines 
 might juftly aflert this conftant agreement 
 of doctrine, who are ridiculed on this ac- 
 count in the Confejjlonal J . 
 
 As fubfcription to the articles hath been 
 an effectual means of preferving the doc- 
 trines of the church in general ; fo hath 
 it been particularly ferviceable in keeping 
 the church of England free from the falfe 
 doctrines and corruptions of popery. 
 
 But, as bifliop Burnet obferves, " That 
 " many had complied with every altera- 
 " tion, both in King Henry"* 'j, and King 
 <* Edward's reign ; who not only declared 
 ' themfelves to have been all the while 
 " papifts; but became bloody perfecutors, 
 
 1 P. 153. 156. See it. p. 322. Note. 
 
 "in
 
 *The IMPORTANCE of UNITY,'^. 63 
 
 * ih Queen Mary's days" 1 ;" the author of 
 the ConfeJJional hence infers, " that the re- 
 " quiring of fubfcription to articles of re- 
 ligion was an ineffectual meafure for 
 excluding all from the minifhy, who 
 " had any tincture of popery." And this, 
 he fays, " the good bifhop here con- 
 *< fefles;" though the bifhop fays no fuch 
 thing. And upon thefe grounds he con- 
 demns Queen Elizabeth's bifhops; and all 
 fucceeding impofers of fubfcription, for 
 continuing fuch an ineffectual tefl n . 
 
 But hath it proved fo ineffectual in fact, 
 \ipon the whole, or in any period after the 
 above-mentioned ? 
 
 That many fhould give way to the 
 times at the beginning of the Reforma- 
 tion, when its principles were not fully 
 fettled ; and fhould prevaricate, and com- 
 ply with every alteration that was made ; 
 and fhould afterwards throw off the maik, 
 when they faw the church of Rome, in 
 which they had been bred, and had fo 
 
 10 Introdu&ion to Expofition of Articles, p. 4. 
 
 11 Confeflional, it. 
 
 lately
 
 64 I REN 1C UM: Or, 
 
 lately left, again become predominant ; is> 
 not at all to be wondered at. It is not laid, 
 that any of thele were of the clergy, or 
 had fubfcribed to the articles of religion ; 
 and fuppofmg, as is probable, there were 
 Ibme of them among thofe falfe brethren, 
 yet it is not fair to make an eflimate of 
 the efficacy of any means, from fuch par- 
 rial and uncertain proofs, and fuch un- 
 fettled times, which did not admit of a fair 
 trial of them. Let this writer carry his 
 enquiries down to the times which fuc- 
 ceeded the eflablimment of the Reforma- 
 tion under Queen Elizabeth ; and he will 
 not find many, if any, among the clergy 
 of the church of England, from thofe 
 times to the prefent, who fubfcribed to the 
 articles of religion, and were afterwards 
 detected to have been papifts ; or, as he 
 puts the cafe, even to have had any tinfturc 
 cf popery in them. 
 
 Some few inftances, I allow there have 
 been in former times, of apoftates among 
 the clergy, from the church of England to 
 that of Rome-, but none that J can 
 
 recoiled
 
 The IMPORTANCE OUNITY,. 65 
 rfecollecT: of difguifed papifts continuing to 
 officiate, or to hold preferments in it; 
 touch lefs in any fuch numbers, as to 
 juftify the above-me'ntioned inference ; 
 that fubfcription to the articles is an ihe 
 fectual meafure for excluding papifts from 
 the miniftry. If this writer knew of any 
 fuch, I prefume he would not have failed 
 to produce them. 
 
 We may therefore appeal to the annals 
 of our church, and to the fals contained 
 In them, which are always the moft de- 
 cifive proofs ; and they will authorize us 
 to conclude, That fubfcription to the ar- 
 ticles of religion hath been a moft effec- 
 tual means of keeping papifts out of the 
 miniftry of our church. For to what 
 other caufe can this be fo juftly afcribed, 
 as to the many fences which are faifed 
 againft the fundamental errors and cor- 
 ruptions of popery, in our articles, and in 
 bur liturgy ? The former are fo cautioufly, 
 fo clearly, and fo ftrongly worded, that pa- 
 pifts, and even Jefuits, with all their ib- 
 phiftry and equivocation, have not been 
 F
 
 66 I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 able to br^ak through, or furmount them. 
 And our excellent liturgy is framed in a 
 manner fo diametrically oppofite to the 
 idolatrous worfhip of the church of Rome, 
 that almoft every office and prayer of it 
 would flam conviction in the face of any 
 prieft of that church, who fhould have 
 the hardinefs to ufe it. 
 
 Inftances there have been, in abundance, 
 of popifh priefts and Jefuits, appearing 
 under the difguife of Quakers, Independents^ 
 and other fe&aries ; becaufe none of thofe 
 fects had any fpecial provifions againft 
 them . But though the emiflaries of 
 Rome have appeared in all fhapes to fo- 
 ment our differences; yet I do not know 
 of their having ever been found to perfb- 
 nate the clergy of the church of England, 
 
 Quakerifm is faid to have been hatcht at Rome. 
 The fet of the Seekers hath been traced to the fame 
 origin ; and both are fuppofed to have been actuated 
 from thence ; popifh fa&ors having been found to mix 
 themfelves in great numbers with thofe, and other fec- 
 taries ; preaching in their aflemblies ; plotting the 
 death of King Charles the Firft ; and difleminating the 
 moft infernal politicks among them. For this fee Ca- 
 lamys Life of Baxter t vol. I. p, 57 60. 100, loi, 102. 
 
 either
 
 The IMPORTANCE ofUxnv,&c. 6; 
 
 either in, or out of it ; unlefs it be in one 
 inftance; and whether that makes more 
 for, or againft, the purport of what is here 
 advanced, let the reader judge. 
 
 The inftance I mean is that of Faithful 
 Cummin ; whofe flory ought not to pafs 
 here unnoticed. This man appeared iu 
 the year 1566, under the difguife of a 
 'diffenting preacher. He would exercife ex- 
 temporary prayer for two hours together; 
 groaning and weeping, in a congregation 
 he had gathered of men of tender confer- 
 ences, as he called them. He pre- 
 tended to the fpirit, and to make the 
 church purer than it was. He preached 
 againft fet forms of prayer; called the 
 Eng/i/h liturgy the Rnglifh mafs ; and had 
 perfuaded feveral to pray fpiritually, and 
 ex tempore. And, what feemed in a manner 
 peculiar to him, he, by fbme means or 
 other, would get into the church, and 
 preach againft Rome and the Pope ; but 
 took care never to appear till divine fervice 
 was over; nor to join either in the Engltjfj 
 liturgy, or in receiving the facrament, in 
 the church of England. Being detected, 
 Fz he
 
 68 IRENICUM; Or, 
 
 he proved to be a Dominican fryar ; and 
 faid he had been ordained by cardinal Pole. 
 Having fled from England, and gone to 
 Rome, he was imprifoned by the Pope, 
 Pius V, for railing at him, and his church, 
 in England. But he convinced his Holi- 
 nefs of his having, under that colour, done 
 him, and mother- church, fo much fervice ; 
 by the odium which he had caft upon the 
 church of England, and the ftumbling- 
 block which he had laid in its way, that the 
 Pope rewarded him with a prefent of twp 
 thoufand ducats?. 
 
 To proceed. Upon the whole of what 
 hath been faid, I do not fee what objection 
 any good proteftant, or any one, but a 
 downright papift, can poflibly have againft 
 the continuance of fubfcription to the ar- 
 ticles againft popery, above all others. For 
 can any renunciation of the church of 
 Rome, and of its erroneous and corrupt 
 doctrines, be too explicit, againft the 
 fubtle diftinctions, equivocations, and 
 mental refervations of that church? 
 
 * Strypis Life of Archbifhop Parker, book III. 
 chi xiii. xvi. p. 230. 244. 
 
 But,
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 69 
 But, inftead of fubfcription to the ar- 
 ticles againft popery, it is propofed, That 
 a declaration fhould be required of per- 
 fons, who offer themfelves for orders, or 
 preferment in the church, and for the mi- 
 niftry out of it, T^hat they are proteftants. 
 But what will this one general declaration 
 avail towards keeping papifts out of ei- 
 ther? will zjefuit fcruple to declare him?, 
 felf zproteftant ? and if he is called upon 
 to explain himfelf, which no body will 
 have power to compel him to, will it not 
 readily occur to him to fay, That he 
 meant only to proteft againft the tyranny 
 of the pope, in dhTolving his order, and de- 
 priving him and his fraternity of their 
 pofleffions ? 
 
 Our proteftant difTenters always dreaded 
 popery, as their moft deadly enemy ; and 
 thought they could fcarce ever be fuffi- 
 ciently fafe from it. And their jealoufy 
 of it carried them fo far, as to tax the 
 church of England with being papiftical, 
 or popifhly inclined, for having any thing 
 jn common with the church of Rome ; 
 F 3 Phc
 
 7,o I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 the leaft rag of which they could not bear 
 the thoughts of. And are all their appre- 
 henfions, and hatred of it, come to this at 
 laft? Hath popery changed its nature? 
 And is it now fo little formidable, that they 
 can be content with the bare profeffion of 
 their being proteftants ; and need nothing 
 more to protect them from it ? Is it for 
 fear of offending the delicacy of the 
 Roman catholicks, that they dare not fo 
 much as add, that they are not papijls f I 
 hope, when they next apply to parlia- 
 ment, they will think fome ftrcnger 
 bulwark netfeflary to be raifed againft 
 popery. Sure I am, that they cannot give 
 it any greater advantages, than by thus fu- 
 pinely expofing themfelves to the incur- 
 iions of fo watchful an enemy. 
 
 Of as little avail, in general, would a 
 declaration, or fubfcription, be, that a 
 perfon was a chriftian ; and received the 
 icriptures as the word of God, and as the 
 rule of his faith and manners. For fub- 
 (criptioa, in fuch vague and general terms, 
 woyld be little more than the fhadow of 
 
 fubfcription,
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 71 
 fubfcription, to fave appearances ; and, at 
 the fame time, to evade the real intent and 
 ufe of the law in this refpeft. Men may 
 declare themfelves chriftians, who fcarce 
 deferve the name, and who hold very anti- 
 chriftian principles ; and it is well known, 
 that the vileft hereticks have profefled the 
 greateft regard for the fcriptures, and have 
 flickered themfelves under the umbrage 
 of them. But to return. 
 
 The author of the Confejfional is under 
 great apprehenfions of danger from the 
 growth of popery among us : And I en- 
 tirely approve of his zealous endeavours 
 to excite the vigilance of our governors in 
 church and ftate againft it, and its emif- 
 faries; and particularly againfl the moft 
 infidious and intriguing of them all, the 
 Jefuits ; who, fmce their expulfion from 
 other kingdoms, muft be fuppofed, and 
 are known, to difperfe themfelves in great 
 numbers, in this, and all other proreftant 
 countries; and to appear in all lhapes, 
 more than ever. But we do not know 
 what fecret inftru&ions they may have to 
 F 4 propagate
 
 72 1RENICUM: Or, 
 
 propagate popery, and the intereft of mo? 
 ther-church ; though (he feems to have 
 proved but a ftep-mother to them. 
 
 I agree with him in every thing he fays 
 about pur danger from popery, and the 
 Jefuits particularly ; but I can by no 
 means agree with him, in the inference he 
 draws from it. " You will afk," fays he, 
 f ' what has all this to do with fubfcription. 
 " to articles of religion ; and the efta- 
 * blifhment of confeffions of faith and 
 ?' doctrine, in proteftant countries^?" We 
 might know of ourfelves, that it certainly 
 hath fomething to do with them; but 
 ihould never dream of the ufe he makes 
 of this ; nor ever imagine, that the con- 
 clution which he draws from hence is, 
 That fubicription to articles of faith 
 fhould not be enforced, or continued 
 jbut be entirely laid afide to thofe very 
 articles, he muft mean, about one half of 
 which are directly, and in exprefs words, 
 leveled againfl the church of Rome; which 
 he is under fuch dread of. And yet, in the 
 * See Cpnf. pref. to firft edit. p. c. 
 
 fame
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, ?<:. 73 
 
 fame breath, he endeavours to put us out 
 of conceit with thofe articles, among the 
 reft. As well might he go about to per- 
 fuade us, ' Neighbours, your lands are 
 " threatened with an inundation ; there- 
 " fore, by all means, down with your em- 
 ** bankments ; and be fure you level them 
 " all with the ground. n " Your houfe is 
 ." befet with thieves : Therefore pray 
 " throw open your doors to receive 
 ." them." The language of the Confef- 
 Jional) mutatis mutandis, is, in plain Engr 
 lifh, none other than this : And he, who 
 talks in this manner, might well be 
 fufpe&ed of being an accomplice, were 
 we not otherwife fully fatisfied of this 
 learned writer's proteftant principles; and 
 it is much to be regretted, that a perfon 
 of fuch abilities mould be fo far blinded 
 by his bigotry for the caufe he is em- 
 barked in, as to ftudy thus to impofe upon 
 himfelf, and others, by fuch fophiftical 
 reafoning, as will prove quidlibet ex quo- 
 llbet. But every unprejudiced perfon furely, 
 who hath the free ufe of his fenfes, will 
 
 fee,
 
 74 IREN1CUM: O, 
 
 fee, that the greater our danger is, the 
 more it fhould be guarded againft; and 
 that it is madnefs to throw down barriers 
 and bulwarks, when there is the greateft 
 need of them. I hope therefore our fe- 
 nators will fuffer the articles, againft po- 
 pery at leaft, to continue in force, till we 
 have fomething better than a bare declara- 
 tion, that we are prof e/f ants, fubftituted in 
 their ftead. 
 
 . Nor would the making, and fubfcribing, 
 the declaration againft popery, required 
 by the at of toleration, much mend the 
 matter, were it more explicit than it is. 
 For, to argue with them on their own 
 principles, Are not thefe human forms ? 
 are not the very terms unfcriptural ? For 
 I believe they will not find the words, po- 
 'pery, paptft> or protejlant, in their bibles. 
 How then can they fubfcribe any fuch 
 confeffions, or declarations, which are not 
 exprefled in the words of fcripture, any 
 more than the articles of the church of 
 England ? 
 
 They
 
 tte IMPORTANCE of UNIT^, &c. 75 
 They fcruple fubfcribing thofe, or any 
 other human forms : And yet they can 
 make, and fubfcribe the delaration againft 
 popery of the 3Oth Car. II. flat. 2. c. i. 
 which is exprefled in the hard unfcrip- 
 tural words tranfubjlantlatlon^ mafs, pope, 
 equivocation, mental refervation, &c. What 
 inconfiftency ! 
 
 Hence furely we muft be fully con- 
 vinced of the abfolute neceffity of fome 
 human forms ; which it is better to fubmit 
 to, than to condemn them all in the 
 lump ; and let men loofe, to run wild 
 after their own vagaries; and to expofe 
 the fimple and unwary to become a prey 
 to the crafty feducer. 
 
 Another means which I mentioned, of 
 keeping this church ftedfaft in the unity 
 of faith, is, that uniformity of publick 
 worlhip, which is eftablifhed by law in 
 it : Whence the reading of the fcriptures 
 of both Old and NewTefbament, more, and 
 more orderly, than I believe in any other 
 church the frequent repetition of its creeds 
 the conftant ufe of the facraments 
 
 and
 
 76 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 and the interweaving of the fame doc- 
 trines in its prayers and offices, which are 
 contained in the articles all this corro- 
 borates, and perpetuates the belief and 
 profemon of them ; habituates the people 
 to them, and fixes them in their minds. 
 
 Add to this, That the difcourfes of the 
 clergy from the pulpit, and their printed 
 works, being generally conformable to 
 the dodrine of the church, do conftai'tly' 
 contribute to inculcate and confirm the 
 truth of it -, and to preferve the faith pare 
 and uncorrupt, and the people ftedfaft in 
 it, without being to/Jed about ivith every' 
 wind of dottrine, 
 
 If the fame round of offices be difguftful 
 to fome nice palates, there is room to 
 fufpeft their want of a true relifli for de- 
 votion ; there being fuch a pleafmg va- 
 riety, and alternation, in the feveral parts 
 of the publick wormip, according to the 
 liturgy of the church of England, as fuf- 
 fkiently recommends it to all fober an4 
 pious chriftians. It engages, and at the 
 fame time relieves, our attention ; and the 
 
 whote
 
 *he IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 77 
 whole is admirably contrived to keep up 
 the fpirit of devotion alive in our fouls, 
 throughout the whole fervice : And if 
 the unftable, and fickle-minded, grow 
 tired of fuch hackneyed forms T ; they muft 
 have more virtue than piety, or at lead a 
 great happinefs of temper in other refpe&s, 
 not to be tired of themfelves, and all about 
 them. If fuch perfbns had the new-mo- 
 deling of our liturgy, I wonder how they 
 would contrive it, to make it ever new, 
 and ever pleafing ; unlefs they think, that 
 extempore efFufions would better anfwer 
 that intention ; which can come but with 
 an ill grace from any churchman. For our 
 parts, it may not be amifs to Men to the 
 wife man's advice, not to meddle with them 
 that are given to change. 
 
 We cannot juftly fay, how well calcu- 
 lated the conftitution of other churches, 
 and congregations, among us are, for pre- 
 ferving the chriftian faith found and un- 
 corrupt in them ; becaufe they are more 
 
 T See ConfeJJional, p. 18. 
 
 referved ;
 
 7 S IRE NI CUM: Or, 
 
 refer ved ; at leaft, their liturgies, or di- 
 rectories, are not made fo publick. But, 
 if we may judge of the tree by its fruit, 
 the writings of their chief divines appear 
 in a very different ftrain from, nay are 
 contrary to, the works of thofe that went 
 before them ; not only in the doctrines 
 relating to the divine decrees ; but in the 
 more important points of the fatisfaction 
 and divinity of the Son of God ; not to 
 mention other inftances. 
 
 Some confiderable helps, to keep them 
 ftedfaft and united in the true faith, I ap- 
 prehend, are wanting in moft, if not all, 
 our diflenting congregations ; fuch as fome 
 certain ftandard of doctrine the ufe of 
 fome, or other, of the primitive creeds; 
 and, if I have been rightly informed, none 
 of them are ufed in the kirk of Scotland 
 the want of fome fettled forms of prayer 
 in moft of them no obfervance of the 
 great feftivals, and of courfe no fpecial 
 commemoration of the great mercies of 
 them. Add to this, that the neglect of 
 fubfcribing the doctrinal articles, with 
 5 the
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 79 
 
 the connivance at it, creates indifference, 
 and makes room for a change of prin- 
 ciples. 
 
 With regard to difcipline, the old Pu- 
 ritans were remarkably ftridT: and rigid ; 
 but the prefent difienters in general are 
 fallen into the contrary extreme. The 
 platform fet forth by the former was very 
 narrow, and confined. The latter obferve 
 fuch a latitude, that they fcarce know how 
 to contrive it wide enough 8 . 
 
 Our articles were not Calviniftical 
 enough for the Geneva difcipline ; and 
 our divines were cenfured for leaning too 
 much to Arminianifm. The articles, with 
 
 See PrieJIley's form of difcipline, in his addrefs to 
 proteftant diffenters. There cannot be a more re- 
 markable inftance of the great relaxation of difcipline 
 among the diffenters, than is to be feen in the perfon 
 of this writer himfelf ; who goes on uttering blaf- 
 phemies, without controul, or rebuke, from his bre- 
 thren, or indeed from any others ; while Emlyn was 
 perfecuted in Inland, and Pierce, JPitbers, and Hallet, 
 in England, by the diflenting clergy ; and that within 
 the memory of many now living, for writings much 
 lefs offenfive to all ferious chriftians. 
 
 many
 
 8t> I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 many now, are quite too Cah'mlflkal\ and 
 they have far outgone Arminius himfelf. 
 The Arminlan fenfe of the articles was 
 conftrued formerly, as having a tendency 
 to popery, if not to be papiftical, in arch- 
 bifhop Laud, and others, who efpoufed 
 that fenfe. It is now extended much far- 
 ther by thofe who profefs the greateft 
 averfion to popery that can poffibly be ex- 
 preffed *. 
 
 But the main charge of all is, That the 
 requifition of fubfcription to articles of 
 faith in general is fuch an unwarrantable 
 impofition, as is not to be juftified, from 
 any confederations of ufe, or neceffityj 
 nor from the examples of other churches ; 
 being a manifeft infringement on the right 
 of private judgement; the facred and in- 
 violable privilege of all proteftants. 
 
 This is a weighty objection, and de- 
 ferves to be very ferioufly confidered : In 
 order to which, it will be requifite to go 
 to the bottom of it ; and carefully to exa- 
 mine this right of private judgement, oft 
 which it is founded. 
 
 * Seep. 30. f*pra<
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. Si 
 
 To think, and judge for himfelf, in all 
 matters pertaining to one's felf, is what 
 every thinking being hath undoubtedly a 
 very good right to. It is his birth-right* 
 and is inherent in his very nature ; nor can 
 he be deprived of it, any more than he 
 can be diverted of himfelf. Think he 
 muft ; and, as felf is ever uppermoir. in 
 his thoughts, he will at all events think 
 for himfelf; and it concerns, and is in- 
 cumbent upon him, to extend his thoughts 
 to every thing relating to his own wel- 
 fare, temporal and fpiritual. And his 
 thoughts are his own, which no man can 
 invade, or difpofTefs him of ; however he 
 may be retrained in the outward work- 
 ings of them. 
 
 On this right the Reformation was 
 founded, nor can it ever be controverted 
 upon proteflant principles ; and God for- 
 bid we mould ever be deprived of fo va- 
 luable a privilege! But the queftion is, 
 whether this, in common with all our 
 other rights, natural as well as civil, in 
 foc/tty, is not liable to fome reftraints and 
 G limi-
 
 82 I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 limitations, in the ufe and refult of it ? 
 And whether it hath not its proper fphere 
 of action, within which it ought to be 
 confined ? 
 
 If we are to take our meafures in this 
 enquiry, from the extent to which this 
 right hath been carried of late, and af- 
 ferted by its modern advocates ; we muft 
 conclude, that the right of private judge- 
 ment is abfolute, uncontroulable, and un- 
 alienable u . For, from being obliged to 
 have recourfe to this right, on neceflary 
 and juft occafions ; and from a modeft and 
 wary ufe of it, in reforming from the 
 church of Rome; men have been em- 
 boldened by degrees to carry it to fuch an 
 extravagant height in all cafes, as to fet it 
 above all controul ; and every abridge- 
 ment of it, though made by lawful au- 
 thority, they look upon as an ufurpation. 
 But, if we examine this queftion by the 
 fober rules of reafon and religion, we {hall 
 be convinced, that this, as well as all 
 other rights of men in fociety, muft be 
 
 u Sec Confejfional, ift edit. p. 194. 
 i fubjecl
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 83 
 
 fubjeft to fome limitations, and become 
 fubordinate to the fuperior rights of the 
 fociety in general. 
 
 The right of private judgement, by the 
 very term of its being private, muft be li- 
 mited by a man's owri private capacity, as 
 an individual ; and by the fphefe of his 
 own private concerns, in matters which do 
 not affect the publick. This is the proper 
 fphere of its action, as contradiftinguifhed 
 from that of the publick : Nor do men, a 
 highly as they affect to think of it; al- 
 ways give it full fcope, even within thefe 
 bounds; though the fame men, in other 
 cafes, will not brook the prefcribing of 
 any bounds to it. 
 
 We are often at a lofs in judging for 
 ourfelves, not only in fpiritual, but in 
 temporal matters likewife, of daily oc- 
 currence. In fuch cafes, which come home 
 to us, we perceive the weaknefs of our 
 "own judgements; and, very prudently 
 diftrufting them, we think it advifeable 
 to confult our neighbours and friends ; 
 and to fubmit our own to their better 
 G 2 judge-
 
 84 I -REN 1C UM: Or, 
 
 judgements. In common interefts, com- 
 mon confultations become requifite of 
 courfe. When two, or three, are united 
 in intereft, it is natural for them to unite 
 in council. Their united deliberations 
 they find ftrengthen their judgements, and 
 are productive of riper determinations: 
 And it is not uncommon for them to de- 
 volve the management of their whole 
 concerns upon one. of their number; in 
 whofe fuperior wifdom and difcretion their 
 experience hath taught them to confide. 
 As the force of their judgements, when 
 united, is flronger; fo the right of exer- 
 cifing them becomes, by their union, 
 ftronger likewife. For feparate rights, being 
 joined together, confirm and ftrengthen, 
 each other. The rights of individuals 
 confifting of fo many units, when col- 
 lected into one general fum, that fum 
 muft be equal to all its parts ; and greater 
 than any lefler number, of them. There- 
 fore the right of the aggregate body muft 
 be greater than that of the individuals 
 which form it, not only taken fingly, 
 
 but
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 85 
 
 but than all of them in their feparate ca- 
 parities. 
 
 Apply this to the community. What- 
 ever right of private judgement fmgle 
 members of it have ; thefe rights, being 
 accumulated, grow ftronger, and more 
 perfect. If a private perfon may frame 
 rules for his private conduct j the publick 
 furely may do the fame may make laws 
 for itfelf for the well-ordering of its 
 own government; that is, for every member 
 of it, binding every one. 
 
 If there be a right of private judgement; 
 this, in fociety, muft be productive of a 
 right of publick judgement. For there 
 furely is fuch a thing as publick judge- 
 ment,^ well as private ; and the one hath 
 its rights no lefs than the other : Nay, it 
 is becaufe there is a right of private judge- 
 ment, that there muft be a right of pub- 
 lick judgement likewife : For the one ne- 
 ceflarily refults from the other. Where 
 thefe two rights clam, the weaker muft 
 neceffarily yield to the ftronger ; the pri- 
 Vte to the publick ; muft never interfere 
 G 3 with
 
 U- I REN 1C UM: Or, 
 
 with it, unlefs in very extraordinary cafes, 
 in which compliance would be finful ; but 
 mufl ordinarily be fuperfeded by it; be 
 governed by its laws, and aft in fubordi- 
 nation to it ; when that can be done 
 without fm. For it is a firfl principle in 
 fociety, that the inclinations of the mi- 
 nority muft be over-ruled by the judge- 
 ment and decifion of the fuperior number. 
 And it is well-obferved, " that in civil fo- 
 " ciety, compofed, as it commonly is, of 
 *' fuch an infinite number of heteroge- 
 " neous and difcordant principles and in- 
 " terefts, in trade, in politicks, and in re- 
 " ligion ; where fubjecls of contention 
 " prefent themfelves by thoufands every 
 c hour; no conftitution can fubfift a mo- 
 " ment, without a conftant refignation of 
 ** private judgement to the judgement of 
 " thepublickV 
 
 The fame reafoning, and the fame prin- 
 ciples, will hold good, with regard to civil 
 
 w Letter from a Virginian to the Members of the 
 
 Congrefs at Philadelphia. 
 
 '...-.. 
 
 and
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, Gfc. 87 
 and ecclefiaftical, fecular and religious 
 rights x : Nay, in matters of faith and re- 
 ligion, duly confulted about, if but be- 
 tween two, or three, gathered together in 
 ChriiYs name, he himfelf affuredly pro- 
 mifeth his divine prefence, to fuperintend, 
 guide, and direct, their councils?. This 
 is more than he hath promifed exprefsly 
 to private judgement ; or to confutations 
 ieparate from, and efpecially in oppofition 
 to, any publick ones of his church. 
 
 T Judicium (humanum) ut ad aftiones privatas chri- 
 fiiani cujufque, ita ad publicas aftiones, et privatas, 
 quae publico imperio reguntur, publicarum eft potef- 
 tatum ; et quidem fummarum in fummo gradu. Vidit 
 hoc jampridem Brentius, cujus haec funt vcrba 
 (Proleg.), Ut privatus privatam, ita princeps pub- 
 licam habet de do&rina religionis poteftatcm judi- 
 candi, et decidendi. Et ita judicio opus eft, prae- 
 fertim principum, ut fciant quam do&rinam, et pri- 
 vattm ad fuam falutem zeternam, et publice in populo 
 Dei tueri debeant. Grot, de imperio lumm. potefta- 
 tum, cap. v. fer. 5. A treatife, which was written 
 by this great man, in behalf of the RemonftrantSj 
 pgainft thofe in power who opprefled them. 
 
 7 Matt, xviii. 20. 
 
 G 4 I hope
 
 S8 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 I hope it will not be difputed, but that 
 the church of Chrift is a fociety. This 
 appears, in a good meafure, from what 
 hath been obferved already ; and that it 
 is, in its defign and conftitution, the moft 
 perfect fociety of all others ; having 
 Chrift himfelf for its head ; founded by 
 him upon a rock; the moft firmly built, 
 and eftablifhed upon the wifeft laws j and 
 the moft clofely united, and compacted 
 together, in all its parts. This is effential 
 to the nature of the chriftian religion ; 
 one of the chief defigns for which it was 
 calculated, being to make human fociety, 
 as well as human nature, perfect. And 
 it militates againft the very temper and 
 genius of it, to engage in any meafures 
 which have a tendency to deftroy or 
 difturb the harmony of the fociety con- 
 ftituted by it. 
 
 If therefore the church of Chrift be a 
 fociety, it muft fubfift, as all other fo- 
 cieties do, by the fame general laws of 
 fociety ; which are very different from 
 hcfe of a ftate of nature, which indeed 
 
 cannot
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 89 
 cannot properly be laid to know fcarce any 
 Jaws at all. 
 
 Every man. born in fociety is neceflarily 
 abridged much in his natural rights, reli- 
 gious as well as civil. When he comes 
 of age to examine them, he will find 
 himfelf abridged of them ; and that they 
 had been transferred, by the laws of the 
 conftitution, under which he lives, to 
 thofe who bear rule over him; who, as 
 they judged for him before he was in a 
 capacity of judging for himfelf; fo they 
 go on to judge for him ftill, % in confe- 
 quence of that right of publick judgement 
 which they have ; and of which no man, 
 in his private capacity, can lawfully dif- 
 poflefs them. 
 
 The author of the ConfeJJional feems to 
 queftion, whether a man may transfer, 
 or abridge himfelf, of his right of private 
 judgement z : And he treats this, as giving 
 way to an ufurpation of Ch rift's autho- 
 rity ; who is King in his own kingdom ; 
 and only Lord in matters of confcience ; 
 * P. i2. ift edit.
 
 9 o I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 and he afferts, but not proves, that he hath 
 referved this authority to himfelf; and 
 hath delegated no part of it. 
 
 But the truth of the cafe is, according 
 to what was juft now obferved, that this 
 right is transferred already ; and every 
 man is neceflarily abridged of it, and 
 previoufly to any aft or deed of his own, 
 whereby he might either transfer, or re- 
 tain it ; and before he was capable of 
 doing either ; and that by the very nature 
 of man, as well as by the laws of fociety ; 
 whereby no man was ever in actual pof- 
 feffion of this right at his firft fetting out 
 in life. For we all get into pofleffion of 
 it gradually, as we grow in underftanding ; 
 whereby we are enabled to exercife it. 
 For he needs not be told, that there is a 
 time when we are not capable of judging 
 for ourfelves : And will this gentleman 
 call it an invafion of the right of private 
 judgement, or an ufurpation of ChrifTs 
 authority, in others, under whofe care we 
 are placed, to judge for us under that in- 
 ppacity ? 
 
 Even
 
 The IMPORTANCE cf UNITY, c. 91 
 
 Even this learned author himfelf, pqf- 
 feffed of a good natural judgement, as he 
 .certainly is, to an eminent degree, im- 
 proved by ftudy and application, and ri- 
 pened by years and experience, feems, in 
 the very inftance which he is judging i 
 about, to be rather diffident of his own 
 judgement; as he makes it a quefHon, 
 which he leaves undetermined. Whether 
 he can transfer, or abridge himfelf of, his 
 right to ufe it for himfelf? 
 
 With regard to the authority of Ghrift 
 pur Lord and King, he doth not exercife 
 it here any ptherwife than inwardly by 
 his Spirit, and outwardly in his word; 
 and by the overfeers and governors of his 
 church. Thefe powers are very con- 
 fident with each other 3 . And that he 
 
 hath 
 
 * Summum Chrifti judicium, huic de quo agimus 
 judicio, (nempe judicio fummarum poteftatum circa 
 facra) non magis repugnat, quam ejufdem imperium, 
 fummarum poteftatum imperio; quod fupra oftendifle 
 fatis eft. Legiflatio praemium poenamque aeternam vi 
 fua ferens, et ex ea lege ultima judicatio, folius eft 
 Chrifti. Medio tempoje interfatur Chiftus per Spi- 
 
 ritum
 
 92 I RE NI CUM: Or, 
 
 hath delegated Jome part of his authority 
 to them, whom he hath appointed to ex- 
 ercife it, is fufficiently plain, and cannot 
 be contefted with any fhew of argument, 
 from the folemn inveftiture and delivery 
 of the keys; which are enfigns and em- 
 blems of authority ; and this repeatedly 
 confirmed by exprefs declarations to the 
 fame effed b . The contrary opinion is that 
 of the Fifth -monarchy men^ which I hope 
 is not going to be revived. 
 
 We are initiated into Chrift's kingdom 
 by baptifm, and made his difciples, and 
 fubjecls, by his minifters. During our 
 minority, we are under tutors and gover- 
 nors, in our religious, as well as civil ca- 
 pacities. Being fuppofed by the law not 
 fit to judge and act for ourfelves, in either 
 refpeft, we have others appointed to judge 
 and aft for us. When we grow up, we 
 
 ritum fuum judicio divino; neque tamen fequitur id 
 judicium a&io hutnana, nifi intercedente judicio hu- 
 mano. Grot- ib. fub titulo, Non obftare (judicio fum- 
 marum poteftatum circa facra), quod Chriftus eft 
 fummus judex. 
 
 ^ See Matt. xvi. 19. xviii. 18. John xx. 23. 
 
 continue
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 93 
 
 continue to have paftors and teachers ; 
 from whom we are fuppofed to imbibe our 
 religious principles; and to be farther 
 taught and guided by, in the knowledge 
 and practice of Chriftianity. And many, 
 too many, notwithftanding all the in- 
 ftruction they receive, are but poorly qua- 
 lified to exercife their right of private 
 judgement, in this refpecl:, as long as they 
 live. Not only the ignorant and illiterate, 
 but many others of competent knowledge 
 and learning, fubmit themfelves to the 
 guidance of others of thofe particularly, 
 whofe profeffion and office is fuppofed to 
 qualify them for fuch a truft; and that 
 not merely out of indolence and indif- 
 ference ; but often on account of other 
 occupations, other ftudies and profeffions ; 
 and out of a modeft diffidence of their 
 own judgements ; and a becoming fub- 
 miffion and deference to the judgements 
 of iuch, as they, on good probability, 
 prefume are better able to judge for them, 
 than they are for themfelves c . 
 Vide Grot, ft. p. 228. 
 
 And
 
 94 I R E N I C U iM : ' Or, 
 
 And thus they may be faid to repofe a 
 kind of implicit faith in the judgement 
 of the church ; even of the proteftant 
 church under which they live. Let not 
 any one be ilartled at the expreffion. 
 There is a great difference between the 
 making of fuch a faith neceffary, by keeping 
 the people in ignorance ; and its becoming 
 neceffary by their own neglect, or inca- 
 pacity ; or otherwife expedient, by a vo- 
 luntary and confidential repofal of it. 
 And there will be more or lefs of this 
 latter in all proteftant, as well as popifh 
 countries, in proportion as men continue 
 ignorant, and incapable, and fatisfied with 
 it : And till it wears off, the beft expedient 
 to fupply the want of an explicit faith, or 
 knowledge, is the teaching of faithful 
 paftors in the doctrines of a found and or- 
 thodox church. And perhaps it would 
 be much better, as well for their real edi- 
 fication, as for the peace and unity of the 
 church, if the people would be content 
 with fuch teaching ; rather than to fwerve 
 from it, and turn ajlds into vain jangling ; 
 
 whence
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 95 
 whence they come to fuch a pafs, as not 
 to endure found doftrine ; but having itching 
 ears, heap to themfelves teachers, who under- 
 Jland neither 'what they fay, nor 'whereof 
 they affirm ; deceiving and being deceived d . 
 
 Thus people fet up to judge for them- 
 felves, before they are duly qualified for 
 it: No wonder therefore they fo often 
 judge amifs. It is a premature, and inju- 
 dicious ufe of their own judgement, not 
 tempered with humility, which mifleads 
 them. When they acquire more true 
 chriftian knowledge, they will be lefs con- 
 ceited ; and lefs liable to be tojfed to andfro, 
 find carried about with every 'wind of doc- 
 trine, by the Jleight of men, and cunning 
 craftinefsj whereby they lie in wait to de~ 
 ceive e . 
 
 On the other hand, the doctrine and 
 practice of implicit faith was fo mame- 
 fully impofed upon its vaflals by the 
 church of Rome, that it was high time 
 for people to open their eyes, and to judge 
 for themfelves ; when they found they 
 
 * 2 Tim. Iv, 3. iii. 13. * Eph, iv. 14. 
 
 had
 
 96 IRENICUM; Or, 
 
 had been fo much abufed by it, and it had 
 been made the vehicle of the moft grofs, 
 monflrous, and abfurd impofitions. 
 
 Many of thofe who had emancipated 
 themfelves from its {hackles, held this 
 doclrine in fuch difdain, and were fo jea- 
 lous of it, that they thought they could 
 hardly run far enough from it ; and there- 
 fore never itopt till they got into the con- 
 trary extreme. And now this is generally 
 looked upon as a bug- bear, quite bammed 
 from among all found proteftants ; and 
 fcarce known to have flicker any where out 
 of the church of Rome. They think no 
 quarter ought to be given it ; and any 
 one, who mould offer a word in its behalf, 
 would perhaps be charged, by the author 
 of the Confeffional, as edging towards 
 popery. 
 
 Notwithftanding, I muft own myfelf fo 
 much a papif-, as to fay for implicit faith y 
 that there is, and ever will be, much of 
 it in the world, whether we will or no. 
 It creeps into every department of life in 
 fpite of us. It is neccfiary to the very 
 
 necef-
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, fr. 97 
 
 necefTaries of it. We can neither eat, 
 drink, nor deep, without it : Neither can 
 we keep it out of the church, or conven- 
 ticle. 
 
 It may not here be improper to fpeak a 
 word, or two, to the cafe of youth being 
 required to fubfcribe to the Thirty-nine ar- 
 ticles of religion, at their matriculation into 
 the univerfity of Oxford. 
 
 Thefe young perfons are generally in a 
 ftate of minority ; and are not deemed, by 
 the laws of their country, to have difcre- 
 tion enough for the management of their 
 own fecular affairs. The municipal law of 
 the univerlity is, in this refpecl, perfectly 
 conformable to the law of the land in ge- 
 neral: And is it not fit it fhould be fo? 
 It cannot be expected they fhould be better 
 qualified to judge of abflrufe points in di- 
 vinity, than of the propriety of laying out 
 their own money. They have been hi- 
 therto under guardians and tutors : They 
 are neceffarily fo ftill. Are they notwith- 
 ftanding defirous of knowing what they 
 fubfcribe ? and refolved to ftudy and weigh 
 H every
 
 9 8 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 every article, before they fignify their af 
 fent and confent to it in writing ? If fo, 
 they are quite in the right. They are 
 much to be commended, .and by all means 
 to be encouraged and affifted in their en- 
 quiries. If they meet with any unfur- 
 rnountable difficulties, which they cannot 
 fubmit to the determination of their fupe* 
 riors, let them with-hold their hands, an4 
 be content to turn their backs, without 
 fubfcribing at all, until they are better fa- 
 tisfied. No body compels them to fub- 
 fcribe : But if they think fit to acquiefce 
 in the judgement of the learned body, into 
 which they are going to be incorporated ; 
 they may fafely fubfcribe thefe articles* 
 though they may not understand them-, 
 nor have ever read them : And this they 
 .may do in the lame implicit manner, as 
 they do in a thoufand other inftances. 
 .The articles may be confide red, as an ini- 
 tiating lecture, or as the foundation of a 
 .courfe of lectures ; which it is proper they 
 ihould pay the like attention to, as to the 
 fiibfequent lectures delivered to them, both 
 
 publick
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 99 
 
 publick and private. And if it is not un- 
 fuitable to the ftate of grown perfons, as 
 men and chriftians, to pay a proper de- 
 ference to the doctrine of their teachers, 
 and to the wifdom of the church ; it is 
 much more becoming the modefty and in- 
 genuity of youth, to pay that obedience 
 of their understanding to thofe, of whom 
 they come to learn. 
 
 Such ftudents of the univerfity, as are 
 defigned for the miniftry of the church, 
 mull of courfe make thefe articles a part 
 of their ftudy, as a neceffary preparation 
 for it ; their unfeigned ailent and confent 
 to the doctrines contained in them being 
 what they will be again required to fignify 
 .in writing, in order to their admiffion into 
 the miniftry ; and then they, are fuppofed 
 to do it more explicitly. And I will not 
 diffemble my wiflies, that the Thirty-nine 
 articles of 'religion , and divinity in general, 
 were more ftudied, and lectured upon, both 
 in publick and private, than I doubt they 
 $re, in both univerfities. Young men 
 would not then come fo poorly qualified, 
 ti 2 when
 
 ioo I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 when they offer themfelves for holy or- 
 ders, as, I fpeak from experience, I have 
 been too often grieved to find them. 
 
 As matters ftand, fufficierit time is al- 
 lowed ftudents in both univerfities to per- 
 ufe and weigh the purport of the arti- 
 cles ; and either to proceed in their defign, 
 or betake themfelves to other callings, or 
 profeflions, if they fcruple fubfcribing to 
 them. For this is required by our church 
 of none, but members of the univerfity, 
 clergymen, or minifters, and fchool-ma- 
 fters; though other churches have ex- 
 tended this teft much farther. 
 
 Fuller obferves, that in the church of 
 JLngland, "no lay perfon," except as above, 
 " was required to fubfcribe ; no magi- 
 * {Irate ; nonjs of the commons, according 
 ' to the feverity in other places. For the 
 " perfecnted church of the Englifi in 
 ' Frankfort in Queen Mary's days, de- 
 " manded fubfcription to their difcipline 
 4t of every man, yea even of women : 
 " And the Scotch, in the minority of 
 King Jame&i exacted it of noblemen, 
 
 ' gentlemen 3
 
 The IMPORTANCE ofUxi TY, &c. 101 
 
 " gentlemen, and courtiers j which here 
 " was extended only to men of ecclefi- 
 c aftical functions f ." And the holy dif- 
 cipline of the Puritans here in England 
 enjoined, " That every one, as well men 
 " as women, which defired to be received 
 " into their congregation, mould make a 
 " declaration, or confeffion of their faith, 
 " before the minifters, and elders, mewing 
 " himfelf fully to confent and agree with 
 " the doctrine of the church ; and fub- 
 " mitring themfelves to the difcipline of 
 ' the fame ; and the fame to teftify, by 
 < fubfcribing thereto, if they can writes.'* 
 And every member of the congregation 
 was obliged to render a declaration of his 
 faith before the miniilers and elders, 
 whenever they thought fit to require it: 
 Nor were any to be admitted to the com- 
 munion, without making a confeffion of 
 
 f Fuller's Ecclef. Hift. book Ix. p. 72. 
 
 s Bifhop Maddock's Anfwer to Neale, p. 51. The 
 quotation 5s in the words of the original, the gram- 
 maticalnefs of which I will not anfwer for. 
 
 their 
 
 Hi
 
 io2 IRENICUM: O, 
 
 their faith, and fubmitting themfelves to 
 the difcipline. 
 
 From this comparative view, none can 
 help acknowledging the moderation of the 
 church of England in this refpeft. 
 
 But the author of the Confeffional dif- 
 putes the right of eflablifliing confeffions 
 of faith at all h : And denies, that the 
 church hath any authority to require 
 fubfcription to articles of faith, or reli- 
 gion '. 
 
 Its authority in this refpeft may be de- 
 fended even upon the principle of the 
 right of private judgement itfelf. For if 
 every private chriftian hath a right to 
 judge for himfelf ; every chriftian fociety 
 muft have this right, a fortiori. Though, 
 if we diftinguifh. properly in this cafe, it 
 was by the prince, that learned divines in 
 the church were ordered and authorized, 
 to draw up its articles ; and it was by his 
 authority, or rather by that of the whole 
 legislature, including church and ftate, 
 that fubfcription was, and is, required to 
 * P. 31. * P. 88. 
 
 he
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 103 
 
 be made to them : And this fubfcription is 
 made a condition of holding preferment 
 by the ftate, as well as the church. 
 
 Indeed, this gentleman difputes the au- 
 thority of the one, as well as the other, 
 for requiring any fuch fubfcription; in 
 whom we have an inftance of a church of 
 England man agreeing with papifts and 
 difienters, in denying princes the autho- 
 rity of making laws in church-matters. 
 But I hope every prince, either by himfelf, 
 or in conjunction with thofe who mare 
 the government with him, hath power to 
 enact laws, for the well-ordering of that 
 government, with which he is entrufted^: 
 And the articles of the church of England 
 are part of the law of the land ; to which 
 the fame regard mould be paid, as to the 
 other parts of it ; and it is as reafonable 
 to plead exemption from the one, as the 
 other. ; 
 
 A man, to qualify himfelf for civil of- 
 fices, muft take fuch and fuch oaths ; for 
 eccleiiaftical functions, he muft fubfcribe 
 a certain body of articles. If he fcruple 
 H 4 to
 
 IREN1CUM: O, 
 
 to take fuch oaths, he gives up all thoughts 
 of fuch office : And if he fcruple Tub-- 
 fcribing thofe articles, mould he not be 
 content to drop the function ? 
 
 This is a preliminary condition to be 
 complied with. Every man undoubtedly 
 may, and ought to think for himfelf, in 
 his private capacity. But no private man 
 can go farther. If he afpire to aft in a 
 publick capacity, he mufl fubmit to the 
 laws appointed by the publick by thofe 
 who are invefted with publick authority 
 in that refpect ; of whatever nature his 
 employment be, whether ecclefiaftical or 
 civil: The fame rule of conduct mould 
 be obferved in the church, as in the flate, 
 In religious, as in civil concerns. 
 
 Every fociety likewife hath furely a na- 
 tural right to do every thing neceflary to 
 its own prefervation ; in which general 
 right is included that of beftowing offices. 
 Thus a number of travellers have a right 
 to chuie for themfelves a guide for their 
 journey ; A number of voyagers, a pilot 
 
 for
 
 ^IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 105 
 
 for their (hip : And a free nation hath a 
 right to chufe a king k . 
 
 Hence it follows, that every fociety 
 hath a right of prefcribing the conditions, 
 on which, and on which alone, it beftows 
 its offices, and every thing elfe relating 
 to them. The church of England, as a 
 fociety, bellows the office of teaching, and 
 admin iftering the word and facramenrs, 
 upon condition of fubfcribing to her ar- 
 ticles of faith and religion : And herein 
 ihe requires no more than what me hath a 
 natural right to require, according to the 
 above argument ; by which alone fuch re- 
 quifition is fufficiently juftified. 
 
 But moreover, the depriving her of this 
 right would be depriving her of a privilege, 
 which every private chriftian hath a claim 
 to the privilege of judging forherfelf.The 
 
 k Thus argues Grotius. Naturaliter coetui unicuique 
 permittitur ea procurare, quae ad confervationem fui 
 funt neceflaria : In quo numero eft fun&ionum appli- 
 catio. Ita viatores multi jus haber.t eligendi guberna- 
 torem fuse navis ; viatores itineris ducemj populus 
 liber regem. Grot, ib, cap. x. fe&. 3. 
 
 church.
 
 106 IRE NI CUM: Or, 
 
 church, the body of chriftians in general, 
 in their publick and collective capacity, is 
 denied that privilege by fome of her mem- 
 bers, which they daily exercife themfelves 
 without referve. in publick, as well as 
 private. 
 
 They likewife deny her the privilege of 
 expreffing her own fenfe of fcripture in her 
 own words; which if they themfelves 
 were denied, we mould not fail to hear 
 fuch an unreafonable reftraint laid upon 
 chriftian liberty, loudly, and indeed juftly 
 remonflrated againft. They will fubmit 
 to no human explanations of fcripture to 
 no human creeds, or articles of faith what- 
 foever. But every explanation, or inter- 
 pretation, which the church makes, muft be 
 expreffed in the words of fcripture only J . 
 Would they themfelves fubmit to this in- 
 junction which they want to lay upon her ? 
 Would they be willing, or even able to 
 bear it ? Since they take upon them to 
 prefcribe laws to the church, they fhould 
 at lead be well affu red of the practicability 
 
 1 In this they have the countenance of the old Le~ 
 vekrs ; who would allow of no argument from fcripture, 
 but in the exprefs words of fcripture itfelf. 
 
 of
 
 The IMPORTANCE ofUx IT *,&:. 107 
 
 of them. Let them therefore, to this 
 end, try the experiment firft themfelves, 
 and apply the rule of expreffing their fenfe 
 of fcripture in none but fcripture-words, 
 to their own practice ; which it is but fair 
 they mould do ; and they will fe-on find 
 what wretched work they would make of 
 it. They will be as ready to lay it afide, 
 as David was to put off Saul's armour, 
 which he had not proved. 
 
 Scripture is undoubtedly the beft in- 
 terpreter of fcripture, as far as it will 
 go ; and jflrltual things are bed compared 
 with fpiritual. But farther explanations are 
 often neceflary; in which, from the na- 
 ture of the thing, a latitude of expreffion 
 muft be made ufe of: Otherwife our li- 
 berty will be fo cramped, that we mail 
 every now and then be at a lofs how to 
 exprefs ourfelves ; and all the latitude pof- 
 fible is often little enough to convey our 
 own fenfe with clearnefs and precifion ; 
 and to guard againfl mifapprehenfion and 
 cavil. If we keep to the fenfe of fcrip- 
 ture, and the analogy of faith, the mode 
 of -expreflion can be attended with no ill 
 4 confe-
 
 loS IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 confequences ; otherwife the very letter of 
 fcripture, in bad* or unfkilful hands, might 
 be turned againft itfelf. 
 
 The Confejfional furnifhes us with in- 
 flances of the Cahinifts charging the Re- 
 monjlrants with cheriming the worft 
 meanings under fcripture-words ; and of 
 the Remonftrants bringing the fame accu- 
 fation againft another fet of men m . 
 
 If this rule of rejecting all human ex- 
 planations, and flicking to the words of 
 fcripture only, were always obferved, the 
 province of divinity would lie within a 
 very narrow compafs ; and an infinite va- 
 riety and profufion of books, and learned 
 labour would be faved. There would be 
 an end of teaching, and preaching ; nor 
 would there be any room left for writing 
 on this, or any other fubjecl: in divinity; 
 we would have nothing to do, but to read 
 our bibles ; and, if no human creeds are 
 allowed of, we mail not have fo much as 
 the apoftle's creed left us. 
 
 m P. 75- 
 
 For
 
 57;^ IMPORTANCE C/UNITY, fr. 109 
 
 For what ends then are fuch rigid terms 
 prefcribed to the framers of confeffions, 
 and articles of faith, but to tie up their 
 hands, that all others may be free from 
 any reftraint upon their principles ? This 
 is plainly no more than a fubterfuge, to 
 evade the fubfcribing of any confeflion, or 
 articles of faith whatfoever. If thefe re- 
 formers are to have their wills, and to go 
 on at this rate, how much of our Chrifti- 
 anity will they leave us ? 
 
 With the like view, fyftems of divinity 
 have been much inveighed againft, and 
 fyftematical divines have been arraigned ; 
 in general terms indeed, but in fuch terms, 
 as if there were Something monftrous in 
 them ; and as if they were pregnant with 
 I know not what mifchief. But is there 
 any thing fo very bad in fyftems, and the 
 writers of them, as fuch ? A fyftem of 
 any fcience is a methodical combination 
 and arrangement of parts, concurring to 
 make one confident whole : And a fyftem 
 of divinity is, in other words, no more 
 than a confiftent body of divinity. And 
 
 fhould
 
 no I RE NIC UM: O, 
 
 fhould it not be fuch ? Should not every 
 whole be fo fitly framed together, as to 
 have the concurrence and content of all 
 its parts confpiring to the formation of it? 
 Without which, it would be fuch a 
 -motley and ridiculous piece, as the poet 
 deferibes 
 
 ut nee pes t nee caput uni 
 
 Reddatur farmce cut unus et alter 
 
 AJjuitJtr 'ipatbws .-* 
 I hope the holy fcripture will be al- 
 lowed to be confident with itfelf in all its 
 '.parts. Thefefpre furely it is poffible a 
 confident icheme of agenda et credenda 
 may be drawn from it. The Ten Com- 
 mandments are a fyftem of moral duties. 
 Are they the-worfe for that: The Apoftles 
 Creed contains a fyilem of truths to be 
 believed, not indeed in fcripture terms, io- 
 tidem v&'&is; yet in fubftance to be found 
 there. Is this the reafon why that, and 
 call other creeds, are condemned? There 
 were creeds before there were any written 
 gofpeis ; for we find references to, and re- 
 citals of, feme fhort formularies of this 
 
 kind
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. in 
 
 kind in the gofpels themfelves. I hope 
 they will let us have them. 
 
 I own there may have been fyflems of 
 divinity fo clumfily drawn up, and fo 
 awkwardly put together, as not to harmo- 
 nize with themfelves ; and glaring con- 
 tradidlions might perhaps be found in, 
 them. Some likewife may contain doc- 
 trines that are inconfiftent with the ana- 
 logy of faith. Let fuch, if fuch there be, 
 be pointed out, and rejected. But let not 
 all fyftematical, and regular writings be 
 condemned in the lump, for the fake of 
 them. Syftematical writers are much 
 difdained, for their being narrow-minded, 
 and too much cramped and confined in 
 their notions. Their notions, I prefume, 
 are grounded upon fcripture, by which 
 their minds are limited ; and within which 
 I am fure they may find room enough to 
 expatiate. If others contend for tranf- 
 greffing thefe bounds, to themfelves be it. 
 We have no fuch cuftom, nor the churches 
 of Go<j. 
 
 I wifh
 
 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 I wifh fuch confederations as thefe may 
 contribute to overcome that averfion, 
 which many have conceived againft fy- 
 ftems in general ; and plead fo far in their 
 hehalf, that they may have fair quarter 
 given them. For it is with no particular 
 view to the church of England, any other- 
 wife than as it is a branch of the cathp- 
 lick church of Chrift, profefling a con- 
 ilftent fet of doctrines, that I have offered 
 this apulogy for fyftems of divinity ; 
 which are alone quarreled with. For I 
 do not find, that fyftems in other fciences 
 are at all difapproved of; a ihrewd fign 
 that there is fomething worfe at bottom j 
 which this is but a veil for. 
 
 To what hath been faid concerning the 
 right of private judgement, it may not be 
 amifs to add a few confiderations on the 
 exercife of that right. 
 
 And here furely fome decorum mould be 
 obferved in this refpe6t ; fome regard paid 
 by individuals to the whole body ; and 
 fome degree of veneration mould b.e 
 reckoned due from private chriftians, in 
 
 judging
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, tc. 113 
 judging for themfelves, to the judgement 
 of thofe who bear rule over them, and watch 
 for their fouls, attending continually on this 
 very thing. 
 
 The exercife of private judgement is 
 not only the right, but the duty of all 
 chriftians, as far as they have it in their 
 power ; that they may be able to give a 
 reafon of the hope that is in them. 
 
 But let them at the fame time re- 
 member, that this judgement of theirs is 
 private ; in virtue of which, they can have 
 no right, or pretence, to dictate to others 
 much lefs to the church in general and 
 much lefs frill fhould they fet up their 
 own judgements in opposition to hers to 
 thwart and contradict it difdain all de- 
 ference to her judgement ; and affume fuch 
 a felf-fufficiency, as fets itfelf above all 
 government and control. 
 
 Every good chrirtian, and every peace- 
 able member of fociety, in the exercife of 
 his private judgement, how far foever he 
 is capable of carrying it, will put the moft 
 favourable conftruction upon doctrines and 
 I ordi-
 
 ii4 I RE NI CUM: Or, 
 
 ordinances, grown venerable by age ; 
 long ago eftablifhed by lawful authority. 
 He will endeavour to bring his own fen- 
 timents into a conformity to them, as far 
 as is confident with the clear dictates of 
 reafon and fcripture. He will be more in- 
 clined, when doubts arife, to fufpet fome 
 error > in his own apprehenfions, fome 
 fallacy in his own reafonings, than in de- 
 cifions grounded on fuch refpeclable fanc- 
 tions. He will proceed with the utmoil 
 caution ; and will get the bed informa- 
 tion he can have, for the folving of his 
 doubts and difficulties. He will add prayer 
 to ftudy ; and befeech God to illuminate 
 his underftanding, rectify his errors, 
 and to grant him a right apprehenfion, 
 in this, and all other refpects. And 
 if, after all his endeavours, he finds 
 himfelf under a neceflity of differing 
 in judgement from his fuperiors, he will 
 keep his fentiments to himfelf; unlefs 
 he thinks it will be more for the good of 
 religion to divulge them : In which cafe, 
 he will do it with modefty, deference, and 
 
 opennefs
 
 The IMPORT ANCE c/" UNITY ,GV. 115 
 opennefs to conviction; not contentions, 
 heady, high-minded not defpifing govern- 
 ment ', uor prefumptuvus, -and felf-wtiled -, but 
 afraid to fpeak evil of dignities n . Though 
 he be ever fo fully perfuaded in his own 
 mind ; he will caft down his own reafon- 
 ings, rather than deftroy the unity, or 
 difturb the peace, of the church. That 
 charity which he owes to all mankind, he 
 will think is more efpecially due to the 
 eftablifhed church that charity, which 
 beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth 
 all things, endureth all things 
 
 He will confider, that under a free and 
 fettled government, every man is fuppofed 
 to have given his confent, either exprefsly, 
 or tacitly, by himfelf, or his reprefenta- 
 tives, to all its laws and injunctions ; and 
 that there is but one, and the fame rule to 
 judge by, in all cafes, relating to all the 
 parts of it, in church and flate : And as 
 in the ftate we are to fubmit to all its l.iws, 
 enacted by lawful authority, which are 
 
 n 2 Tim, iii. 4. 2 Pet. ii. 10, 
 " i Cor, xiii. 7. 
 
 I 2 agree*
 
 u6 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 agreeable to its conftitution ; and have a 
 tendency to preferve, and not to over- 
 throw, and deftroy it : So in the church, 
 while her antient conftitution is preferved ; 
 and no innovations in doclrine, nor in- 
 croachments of power, are made, or at- 
 tempted; here the fubject hath no caufe 
 to complain ; nor any pretence to with-r 
 draw his fubmiffion, or exercife his right 
 of private judgement ; fo far as to difturb 
 the peace of the church ; to excite jea- 
 loufies ; or foment divifions in, or fepara- 
 tions from her. 
 
 The church of England cannot be juftly 
 charged with any attempts of thefe kinds. 
 With regard to doctrine, it hath been al- 
 ready obferved, that it is invariably the 
 fame, as it was, when firil fettled at the 
 Reformation ; no formal alterations having 
 been made in it ; nor any confiderable de- 
 parture from it ; whatever hath been the 
 cafe with regard to individuals ; who may 
 have held opinions different from, or con- 
 trary to, the eftabliihed faith and doc- 
 trine ; which are not to be placed to her 
 
 account^
 
 IMPORTANCE C/*UNITY, &c. 117 
 
 account, as long as the foundation laid in 
 her articles, conformably to fcripture, 
 ftandeth fure ; and (he holds faft the pro- 
 feffion of them. 
 
 With regard to power, the moderation 
 of our church is known unto all men, and 
 is often praifed by foreigners, and others, 
 who are not of her communion. Her go- 
 vernment is fo far from making any en- 
 croachments ; that it is neceflarily re- 
 ftrained, in the exercife of difcipline, and 
 all outward jurifdiction, by her being in- 
 corporated with the ftate. This want of 
 a ftricl:er difcipline is often lamented by 
 her beft friends, and the restoration of it is 
 much wimed for by herfelf P. But that is 
 become the lefs pra&icable, on account of 
 her powers having been farther abridged by 
 the toleration. The exemption of fuch 
 numerous bodies from her jurifdi&ion, is 
 what ihe hath little caufe to regret, as it 
 renders her burden the lighter : But it is 
 matter of real grief and concern to her, 
 that too many libertines, within her own 
 tpfom, are ready enough to take advantage 
 J> See the Commination-office. 
 
 1 from
 
 n8 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 from hence, for fpurning at her authority, 
 and bidding defiance to her laws ; as they 
 know they have an eafy way to evade 
 them. Hence her cenfures are in a great 
 meafure laid afide, or otherwife are difre- 
 garded. Her laws are not carried into 
 execution ; and are encroached upon by 
 prohibitions from the temporal courts : 
 And the convocation never fits now to do 
 bufinefs. This hath expofed her to the 
 infults, not only of fuch as are without 5 
 but even of her own gremial fons ; thofc 
 who eat of her bread ? lifting up their heel 
 againft her. 
 
 On the other hand, we have reafdn to 
 be thankful to the Divine Providence, and 
 under it, to our governors in church and 
 flate, for having preferved to our church 
 the privileges, which fhe doth fr.il! enjoy. 
 It fhe is deprived of any of her original 
 piowers ; fhe efcapes the odium of exercifing 
 them : And if in fome things fhe is over- 
 Tuled by the ftate ; fhe derives, from her 
 coalition with it, the fupport, frrength, 
 and ftabilitv, of the common conftitution. 
 
 Thg
 
 IMPORTANCE O/*UNITY, &c. 1 19 
 
 The controverfy, fo warmly debated, 
 at the end of the laft, and beginning of 
 the prefent century, about the rights and 
 privileges of the convocation, though it 
 then produced nothing but heat, and a 
 fufpenfion of thofe very rights and privi- 
 leges ; yet they have been the better 
 cleared up, and afcertained, by this con- 
 troverfy ; and it ferves as a caution to all 
 future convocations, when their delibera- 
 tions are called for, to obferve greater 
 temper in their debates. And it is hoped 
 the time is not very diftant, when the 
 wifdom of government may fee reafon for 
 a convocation to tranfaft bulinefs; which 
 will be of the higheft importance and be- 
 nefit to this church ; if properly conducted, 
 and brought to a happy iffue. 
 
 If the coercive powers of the church 
 are reftrained, (he enjoys the powers of 
 perfuafion in their full force; which are 
 derived from a higher authority, and fa- 
 vour of the primitive fimplicity of paftoral 
 power. And thefe fpiritual powers, when 
 properly exerted, carry fuch force and 
 
 energy 
 14
 
 f2o I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 energy with them, as renders the exercife 
 of any temporal power the lefs neceflary ; 
 and the \vant of it to be the lefs regretted. 
 
 O 
 
 It is not to be disenabled, that our dif- 
 cipllne is fallen into fo relaxed a flate, as 
 iiot to be many removes from Eraftianifm. 
 Yet even this hath its advantages, as we 
 have partly feen : To which may be added, 
 that the imputation of an enflaviflg, tyran- 
 nical, hierarchy cannot, with any juflice, 
 be applicable to our church at prefent, 
 whatever it might have been heretofore ; 
 though it is as liberally applied to her 
 now, as if (he were in the zenith of her 
 po'-ver, and enforced it with the utmoft ri- 
 gour. Indeed, an hierarchy, as fuch, hath 
 nothing tyrannical, or even arbitrary, in 
 the idea of it. The title is venerable ; it 
 being a government i'nfacris^ adminiftered 
 by perfons of a facerdotal character; which 
 therefore the church of England hath a 
 "juft claim to, though it was never af- 
 fected by her. And if ufed only by way of 
 'diiYmolion from prefbyterian, or rather in- 
 dependent, government, which is partly 
 2 admi-
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, ?<:. 121 
 
 adminiftered by laymen, it hath nothing 
 improper or invidious in it. But this fa- 
 cred government having been abufed by 
 the church of Rotns to the worit of pur- 
 pofes, ufurping dominion over men! 3 faith, 
 and lording it over Gods heritage, in a moft 
 cruel and tyrannical manner, the idea of 
 defpotick power was transferred to the 
 hierarchy of the church of England, by 
 thofe who were difaffected towards her ; 
 and the imputation, however unde- 
 fervedly, hath been induftrioufly propa- 
 gated ever iince. 
 
 The church of England difclaims all 
 pretenfions to fupremacy; and acknow- 
 ledges the King's Majefty to be, under 
 Chrift, the fupreme head of the church, 
 as well as of the ftate. This acknow- 
 ledgement is founded in the aft of fub- 
 miffion, made to King Henry VIII, which 
 continued in force during the reign of 
 Edward VI, and was revived i Elizabeth. 
 An oath was framed in recognition of 
 this fupremacy ; and enjoined to be taken 
 by all officers and rninifters, ecclefiaftical 
 
 and
 
 J22 I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 and civil. The thirty-feventh article of re- 
 ligion agrees with this oath ; and fo do 
 the canons of 1603. Our church teaches 
 obedience to be paid, by all orders and 
 ranks of men, to our Sovereign Lord the 
 King: And the government which (he 
 claims, and exercifes, is only a fubordi- 
 iiate one, for the more regular and decent 
 provifion for, and obfervation of, the di- 
 vine worfhip, and ordinances ; and for the 
 iieceffary maintenance of order and dif- 
 cipline. She fets up no mperlum in im- 
 ferio, to thwart, or curb, the civil govern- 
 ment; as the church of Rome doth in 
 countries fubject to her makes no en- 
 croachments on the laws of the flate, nor 
 clafhes with it in any refpecl. She holds 
 no principles inimical to, nor derogatory 
 from, the fecular government ; and main- 
 tains fuch only, as are conformable to it, 
 and contribute to its fnpport. The law of 
 the church, is the civil and canon law, in- 
 terpreted, and carried into execution, not by 
 clergymen, but civilians ; who prefide over, 
 occupy, her courts ; and almofl all 
 
 the
 
 'The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 123 
 
 the ecclefiaftical courts of the kingdom 
 are kept by laymen. 
 
 This, indeed, hath been urged, as one 
 of the principal objections againft the go- 
 vernment of our church. But it comes 
 with no good grace from thofe, who place 
 fo much of their difcipline in the hands 
 of lay perfons, not profeffing the law, nor 
 ordinarily difringuimed by any fuperior 
 qualifications for their office. The bifhops 
 are ceniured for devolving fo much of 
 their power upon their chancellors ; and 
 yet the hierarchy is thought to have too 
 much power ftill. In the days of popifh ig- 
 norance, few, beiides the clergy, had much 
 knowledge of the law ; and they bare a 
 great fvvay in our courts of law, in ge- 
 neral <J ; the people being kept in ignorance 
 of that, as we'll as all other branches of 
 fcience. When learning began to be cul- 
 tivated ; the ftudy of the law, being fo 
 
 i Antiently the matters of chancery, and of the 
 rolls ; the clerks in chancery, and of the exchequer; 
 were all clergymen. And the clerks of the King's 
 ppurtSj and of parliament, were clergymen alfo. 
 
 ufeful
 
 i2 4 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 ufeful a part of it, was not neglected. 
 This by degrees became a diftinct profef- 
 fion ; and our courts of law were occu- 
 pied by laymen, in proportion as they be- 
 came learned in it. The clergy, of courfe, 
 were then lefs wanted in that department ; 
 and the Reformation taking place, there 
 was fufficient employment for them in 
 promoting it; and in the more proper 
 itudies and duties of their function, in 
 confequence of it; which in truth con- 
 tinue to be the moft proper for them ftill. 
 They therefore withdrew from the ftudy 
 and practice of the civil law, which, 
 ftrictly fpeaking, was foreign to their pro- 
 feffion : Or, rather, they gave place to 
 thofe, who devoted themfelves to this 
 particular fcience ; and who therefore are 
 juftly deemed to be the beft ikilled in it ; 
 and beft qualified to adminifter and difpenfe 
 it. Their merit of courfe entitles them to 
 the emoluments of it. And they un- 
 doubtedly would think it an injurious en- 
 croachment, if the clergy were now to 
 rival them in it. 
 
 Thee
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 125 
 There is nothing intolerant in the con- 
 ilitution of the church of England; and 
 Rapln^ a profefled prefbyterian, doth her 
 the juftice to acknowledge, " that he doth 
 " not find in her principles, or doctrines, 
 " any thing repugnant to chanty, or 
 " tending to violence'. 1 ' 
 
 The prelbyterian government is much 
 extolled for its mildnefs and moderation ; 
 its principles of liberty and popularity; 
 and its freedom from the mackles of 
 churchmen. This government was once 
 eftabliflied over this nation ; and from the 
 teft of experience, the fureft of all others, 
 we have no reafon to admire it fo much, 
 in preference to that of the church of 
 England. 
 
 If we examine that platform of difci- 
 pline, which was long fo ftrenuoufly con- 
 tended for ; and which at length prevailed 
 to be fet up, upon the ruins of the church 
 of England ; and was exercifed for a 
 while ; we mall foou be convinced of the 
 difference between them ; and perceive, 
 
 r Rapins Hifl. of England, 1632. 
 
 which
 
 126 I RE NIC UM: Or 9 
 
 which hath the bed title to meeknefs, and 
 moderation ; and which is to be thought 
 the more arbitrary and tyrannical ; and 
 even feditious, and dangerous to govern- 
 ment. 
 
 This difcipline, in an account given of 
 it, extracted from the writings of the Pu- 
 ritans themfelves, who lived under the 
 reign of Queen Elizabeth, appears to have 
 had a manifeft tendency to the overthrow 
 of her Majefly's government and prero- 
 gative, as well in caufes civil, as eccleii- 
 aftical, in the following inftances, among 
 many others In depriving her Majefty 
 of all right to patronage in the church 
 By claiming the laft appeal, and the fu- 
 preme authority, in all caufes and matters 
 ecclefiaftical By making her Majefty fub- 
 ject to the cenfures, and excommunica- 
 tions of their elderfhips, and other afferri- 
 blies By authorizing certain magiftrates, 
 even to depofe their fovereign, either by 
 war, or otherwife, if he feemcd to them 
 to break covenant By teaching that the 
 government of the commonwealth mud 
 
 bo
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 127 
 
 be framed to the government of the 
 church; whereby it muft of courfe be 
 made republican. They farther claimed 
 an immunity of the revenues of perfons 
 eccleiiaftical, from publick impofitions. 
 They were for abrogating, or changing, 
 the greateft part of the laws of the land. 
 They arraigned the juftice of the realm ; 
 and difdained the authority of the chri- 
 ftian magiftrate. 
 
 Thefe, and many other dangerous doc- 
 trines, and enormous claims, they boldly 
 taught, and peremptorily iniifted upon ; 
 even threatening they mould prevail, in 
 fpight of the Queen and council, and all 
 that oppofed them : And they proved as 
 good as their word. For they adhered fo 
 clofely to their plan, that they perfevered 
 in urging it, during the bed part of 
 three long reigns, for the fpace of above 
 eighty years; when at length they car- 
 ried it into execution with a vengeance; 
 and put it in pradice, in the whole, 
 and every part, attended with fuch 
 
 confe-
 
 128 IRENICUM; Or, 
 
 fequences, as are too well known, and 
 too painful to relate s . 
 
 Rapirfs account of the principles of 
 his friends, the Pre/byterians, is not much 
 more favourable, than the foregoing one. 
 But his character of their own offspring, 
 the Independents, is much worfe. He 
 fays, " Their principles were very proper 
 " to put the kingdom in a flame, as they 
 " did effectually. With regard to the 
 " flate, they abhorred monarchy ; and ap- 
 c proved only of a republican govern- 
 " ment. And as to religion, their prin- 
 tc ciples," he fays, " were contrary tothofe 
 "of all the reft of the world. They 
 " were not only averfe to epifcopacy; but 
 " would not fo much as endure ordinary 
 minifters in the church. They niain- 
 <c tained, every man might pray in pub- 
 " lick, exhort his brethren, interpret the 
 
 3 See Strypes Life of Archbifhop Witgift^ Ap- 
 pendix to Book iv. N iii ; where what hath been here 
 advanced may be feen more at large, in one view ; 
 with references to the writings of thofe Puritans, 
 from which the whole was extra6ted, by the author 
 of Foxes and Firebrands. 
 
 " fcrip-
 
 *The IMPORTANCE of UNITY,^. 1 29 
 " fcriptures, according to the talents God 
 ' had endowed him with. It was the 
 " particular interefi of thefe men fo to 
 * 8 manage, that the government of the 
 " ftate fhould be changed, or rather over- 
 46 thrown ; well knowing their party could 
 " never fubfift, but in anarchy '." 
 
 This 
 
 1 The difTenters now are moftly Independents ; but, 
 I hope, are become more moderate in their principles. 
 The laws that were made againft them, in general, 
 after the Reftoration, Rapln acknowledges, were ne- 
 ceflary to the church of England, for felf-prefervation ; 
 as they were always irreconcilable enemies to it ; and 
 their principles tended to the utter ruin of it; which 
 they aimed at, in order to change it for their own 
 difcipline. And, unlefs they (hew themfelves better 
 difpofed towards it, it is humbly fubmitted to the 
 wifdom of the legillature, whether it would not be flill 
 proper to keep thofe laws in force, by way of precau- 
 tion, and in terrorem ? Nor can they complain, that 
 any other ufe hath been made of them j as, I believe, 
 they cannot produce a fingle inftance of their having, 
 in thefe times, been put in execution againft them. 
 See Rapin ib. ad ann. 1640, and 1644-5. 
 
 The reader may obferve, that, throughout this trea- 
 
 tife, the authors that are quoted, againft the diffenters, 
 
 are generally fuch as are of their own perfuafion ; 
 
 K think
 
 J 3 o I RE NI CUM: Or, 
 
 This retrofpect, I own, goes beyond the 
 defign of thefe papers : Nor mould it ever 
 have appeared, had it not been in a manner 
 extorted, by the panegyricks, which I fee 
 are now publishing, on the characters and 
 merits of thofe prefbyterian and indepen- 
 dent divines, whofe real principles are here 
 briefly delineated A publication, which 
 can anfwer no end, but to irritate and en- 
 flame; and to revive grievances, which, 
 on all hands, had been better buried in ob- 
 livion". This plainly betrays a working 
 of the old leven out anew ; and ill ac- 
 companies any felicitations for farther in- 
 dulgence, to a fpirit, which forebodes no 
 good ufe that is likely to be made of it, 
 in cafe it mould be granted. I hope I may 
 be excufed, for ftepping thus far out of my 
 way ; to animadvert upon a defign, fo con- 
 trary to that of thefe papers. 
 
 think favourably of them j or at leaft are moderate 
 churchmen. And that the authority of all high -church 
 writers is ftuclioufly avoided, unlefs recourfe is fome- 
 times had to it, for the proof of fads. 
 
 u See the Non-conformifts memorial, now publifhing 
 in numbers. 
 
 To
 
 The IMPORTANCE 0fUNiTY,SV. 131 
 
 To proceed. Nearly allied to the que- 
 fHon concerning the right of private 
 judgement, is that relating to chriftian li- 
 berty ; or liberty of conscience, as it is 
 called : By which, I fuppofe, is meant, 
 the liberty of following the dictates of 
 conference, in all the outward acts of re- 
 ligious worfhip. For confcience itfelf is 
 very fafe ; nor can any force be put upon 
 it, with regard to its inward feelings and 
 fenfations ; which it is always at perfect 
 liberty to attend to. 
 
 Mr. Locke, in the preface to his letters 
 on toleration, hath thefe words " Ab- 
 folute liberty, juft and true liberty, 
 " equal and impartial liberty, is the thing 
 " which we fland in need of." This no- 
 tion of liberty, entertained by fo great a 
 man, the author of the Confeffional, and 
 his followers, have not failed to avail 
 themfelves of; and they have extended it 
 much farther, I am perfuaded, than Mr. 
 Locke ever intended. Abfolute liberty is 
 not only romantick and enthufiaftical in. 
 the notion of it ; but it is iuconfiftent 
 K 2 with
 
 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 with thofe other conditions, of its being 
 jtift and true, equal and Impartial ; and 
 would be even deftrudtive of itfelf. For 
 a ftate of abfolute liberty would be a ftate 
 of anarchy and confufion ; in which every 
 man would do what would be right in his 
 own eyes, and would be making his own 
 will law; the confequence of which 
 would be, that we mould have neither 
 law, nor liberty. Every man would be 
 encroaching on the liberty of' his neigh- 
 1 bour. The weak would become a prey 
 to the ftrong ; and the many, Haves to a 
 few; and thofe the worft among them. 
 Even thefe would be {laves too flaves to 
 the greateft tyrants of all others to their 
 own tyrannous lufts and paffions. Info- 
 much that, if mankind were indulged 
 with liberty to the extent implied in the 
 term abfolute, they could not contrive how 
 they might be deprived of it more effec- 
 tually. And, if there are any fuch, whom 
 nothing lefs than abfolute liberty will fa- 
 ' tisfy, they muft go to feek it among the 
 wild Arabs ; for I am fure they will 
 
 not
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 133 
 
 not find it in any civilized nation upon 
 earth. 
 
 Monfieur Pufendorff obferves, " That 
 " an abfolute liberty would be fo far from 
 " being ufeful, that it would indeed be. 
 " deftruclive to human nature ; and that 
 " therefore the binding and reftraining it, 
 " with laws, is highly conducive to the 
 " good, and to the fafety of mankind." 
 And he obferves farther, " That an abfo- 
 " lute liberty, void of all impediment, 
 " and of all defect, is applicable to God 
 " alone ; and is the nobleft attribute of 
 " his fupreme eflence a perfection, not 
 " only infinite in itfelf, but accompanied 
 " too with infinite power w ." And again, 
 " Whoever," fays he, " becomes a ci- 
 " tizen, he refigns up his natural liberty, 
 *' and fubjects himfelf to a governing 
 " power ; w 7 hich includes the right of life 
 " and death ; and at whofe command he 
 " muft confent to do many things, which 
 " he greatly diilikes, and abftain from 
 
 w PufendorfF's Law of Nature and Nation?, Ch. x. 
 
 K 3 ** many
 
 j 3 4 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 " many things which he eagerly de- 
 
 " fires'." 
 
 True and jufl liberty confifls in obe- 
 dience to law; by which it fhould ever be 
 regulated, as Cicero very wifely obferves, 
 fervi legum ergofumus, ut liber I effe pojjimus^ '. 
 And Mr. Locke himfelf elfewhere acknow- 
 ledges, " That where there is no law, 
 "there is no freedom.** This is far fhort 
 of abfolute freedom^ in the ftrict fenfe of 
 the word ; which Mr. "Locke could never 
 mean it in : And therefore, as every au- 
 thor ought in candor to be interpreted 
 by himfelf, he muft be underflood in a 
 qualified fenfe; but, being rather heated 
 by his fubjel, when he was pleading for 
 liberty, he let this unguarded exprellion 
 drop from him ; and, under the authority 
 of his name, it hath been carried to 
 fuch an extravagant height, as, I dare fay, 
 he never dreamt of. 
 
 * Qui civis fit, libertatis naturalis jacturam facit, 
 et imperio fe fubjicit. Puf. de officio civis, lib. ii. 
 
 <;*p>5- 
 
 y Orat. pro Cluentio, 
 
 Chriftiau
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITV, &c. 135 
 Chriftian liberty, as well as the right 
 of private judgement, are privileges, which 
 cannot be valued at too high a rate : But 
 thefe are privileges which may be abufed, 
 by being carried to extremes in the ufe of 
 them : And extremes in the- bed things 
 are always the moft pernicious. The un- 
 happy diffentions and divifions, civil as 
 well ^s religious, which prevail among 
 us, are melancholy proofs of this great 
 truth ; there being no one caufe, to which 
 they may more juftlybe imputed, than to 
 the abufe of thefe privileges : And, if we 
 do not think more foberly of ourfelves, 
 in this refpect, than we are at prefent wont 
 to think ; we may be convinced of our 
 error, when perhaps it will be too late to 
 receive any benefit from the conviction. 
 
 Poffibly we may profit by examples 
 drawn from former times. Liberty of con~ 
 faience- was the cant word of Oliver Crom~ 
 t wdl\ which he pretended to be very zea- 
 lous for. We are informed of him, " That 
 * he headed the greateft part of his army 
 " with Anabaptijls, Antinom'iam, Seekers, 
 K 4 "or
 
 136 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 " or Separates, at beft ; and that he tied 
 " them all together, by the point of //- 
 "'berty of conference ; which was the com- 
 *< mon intereft, wherein they all united." 
 And, in defence of it, they contended, 
 " That the civil magistrate had nothing 
 to do, in matters of religion, by con- 
 ftraint, or reftraint ; but that every man 
 " might, not only hold, and believe ; but 
 " preach, and do, in this refpeft, what he 
 "pleafed'." 
 
 The hiftory of 'thofe diftracl:ed times 
 holds out a faithful mirrour to us ; in 
 xvhich, if attentively perufed, we cannot 
 fail to trace our own likenefs ; and dif- 
 cover the fame latitudinarian principLeS 
 coming round again ; which, if they grow 
 upon us, we mall be as much bewildered 
 'by, as unfettled, as diflocated, and as difu- 
 nited, as the fedlaries of thofe days were ; 
 and like wife as loofe from all religious 
 principle in reality, as they at 1 aft gene- 
 rally came to be. 
 
 z See Ca^amfs Life of Baxter, vol. I. p.. 54. 90- 
 99. 1 10. 
 
 Confcious
 
 'The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 137 
 
 Confcious however of the neceffity of 
 fome band of union, at leaft in appearance; 
 fubfcription to the fcriptures alone is pro- 
 pofed, as what would anfwer all the in- 
 tents and purpofes of fubfcription what- 
 foever : Whereas it really would anfwer 
 no other end, than that of an unlimited 
 latitude, which alone is aimed at;, fo con- 
 trary to all union, and all the purpofes 
 of it. 
 
 For the experience of all ages may teach 
 us, that the fcriptures alone,; though all 
 things necefiary and fufficient to falvation 
 are plainly taught in them, yet are not a 
 fufficient prefervative to themfelves, from 
 being mifunderftood, and wrefted, by thofe 
 that are unlearned^ and unjiable, unto their 
 own deflruElion a . This is what fcripture 
 itfelf informs us of. It is therefore the 
 .higheft abfurdity to think, that a vague 
 fubfcription to thefe fame fcriptures fhould 
 be an effectual prefervative againft all 
 thofe falfe doctrines, which have, age after 
 age, been grafted upon them ; and fhould 
 
 a a Pet, iii. 16, 
 
 alone
 
 138 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 alone prove an adequate means of uniting 
 ils in the fame judgement, concerning the 
 great truths contained in them. 
 
 Hence the wifdom of the church hath, 
 in all ages, found it expedient and necef- 
 fary, to guard and fence about them, with 
 more explicit declarations of fuch doc- 
 trines, as Ihe perceived were in danger of 
 being perverted from their juft and pri- 
 mitive fenfe; efpecially if they were fome 
 of the moft fundamental ones, that were 
 ftruck at ; and, by ail the prudent means 
 in her power, to be watchful over the fa- 
 cred truft committed to her ; and to keep 
 the word of God from being corrupted, and 
 deceitfully dealt <wiik b . 
 
 But iiippofing fubfcription to the> fcrip- 
 tures alone were to take -place fuppofing 
 no other teft were required, than a decla- 
 ration, that a man was " a chriftian and 
 ' a proteftajrt; and that, as fuch, he re- 
 - <c ceived the revelation of the will of God, 
 "contained in the fcriptures of the Old 
 fc * and New Teftament, as the rule of his 
 
 b 2 Cor, ii. 17. iv. 2. 
 
 2 tl faith
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UK i T Y, &c. 159 
 < faith and practice," would all ftand to 
 thisteft? would this give univerfal fatis- 
 faaion ? 
 
 A connderable body of proteftant dif- 
 fenters foon entered a caveat againft this 
 teft ; and prayed to parliament, that the 
 petition for this requeft might not be 
 granted; alledging, among feveral othei: 
 reafons, " that a very great number of pro- 
 " teftant diflenters, minifters, and others, 
 " would be diflhtisfied, if the intended al- 
 <{ teration were to take place." And, with 
 regard to thofe that would be fatisfied for 
 the prefent, are they quite fure, that all 
 would continue long in the fame mind? 
 That fome fafther alteration in the mode 
 of fubfcription would not be wanted? . 
 Whether fome would not be for refining 
 upon it? -and for making fome referves, 
 fome exceptions, and explanations of the 
 fenfe, in which they fubfcribed, or de- 
 clared ? They now propofe to fubfcribe 
 in a certain form of words, to be obferved 
 by all : Podibly, fome may be found, who 
 
 will
 
 i 4 o IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 will not fubfcribe in any words, but their 
 own. 
 
 Dr* Hartley disapproved of fubfcribing 
 to the fcriptures at all. " It feems necd- 
 " lefs, or enfnaring,*' fays he, " to fub- 
 " fcribe even to the fcriptures themfelves. 
 * c If to any particular canon, or copy, &c. 
 *' enfnaring ; becaufe of the many real 
 " doubts in thofe things. If not, it is quite 
 <c fuperfluous, from the latitude allowed 6 ." 
 And I am really fo far of his mind, that 
 if we are to have no other fubfcription, 
 than fuch a one to the fcriptures, that may 
 as well be let alone ; and we may even be 
 without any fubfcription at all. 
 
 Many wifh for a new tranflation of the 
 Bible : And fome may fcruple fubfcribing 
 till that is made. But whg will enfure a 
 general approbation of it, when it is 
 made ? One may be for fubfcribing to 
 this tranflation, and another to that ; and 
 fome, to no tranflation, or verlion, at all, 
 antient or modern : But may think it fafefb 
 
 e Eflay on Man, vol. ii. p. 353. 
 
 to
 
 The IMPORTANCE C/*UNITY, 
 to go to the fountain-head, and fubfcribe 
 to the fcriptures in their original lan- 
 guages ; which, to be fure, they muft all 
 of courfe be well acquainted with. And 
 ftill there may be fome, who will not reft 
 even here. One party may be for fub- 
 fcribing to the original Hebrew ; and be 
 llicklers for the Hebrew verity: While 
 others may give the preference to the Sa- 
 maritan Pentateuch. Some will chufe to 
 fubfcribe to the Alexandrian copy: Some 
 perhaps to the Vatican ; and fome to 
 neither. 
 
 What editions of the original will they 
 all agree to fubfcribe to ? Or, is it likely 
 they would come to an agreement about 
 any ? It is well known there are many 
 various readings in the feveral MSS. of 
 the Greek ^Tcjlament: And many likewife 
 have of late been difcovered in tN Hebrew 
 MSS. of the Old ^ejiament. Who will 
 undertake to furnifh the clue, that mall 
 lead us through all this labyrinth ! And 
 how many, in the ufe of their own pri- 
 vate judgement each, would invariably 
 
 follow
 
 IRENICUM: O, 
 follow him throughout? When perfons 
 are feized with fuch a fpirit of refinement, 
 there is no gueffing how far it will carry 
 them. Their delicacy is offended at the 
 thoughts of human articles, and formu- 
 laries, and human interpretations of fcrip- 
 ture. This others, perhaps, would be apt 
 to call great arrogance, perverfenefs, and 
 felf-fufficiency. Can they (hew us any an- 
 gelick articles ? or diredl: us to any divine 
 interpretations of the fcriptures ; befides 
 what is contained in the fcriptures them- 
 felves ? 
 
 But while they live among men, they 
 muft fubmit to the common laws of hu- 
 manity ; fomething of which will ftick to 
 them, in fpite of all they can do to divert 
 themfelves of it: An4 they muft go out 
 of the world, to be quite free from the 
 impertinence of other people, every now 
 and then inter pofing itfelf. The fcriptures 
 were written by men, though dictated by 
 the Spirit of God ; and were conveyed 
 down to us by the channel of frail mor- 
 tals: Nor can they be received, but 
 through the unhallowed hands of fallible 
 
 creatures,
 
 7/fo IMPORTANCE of UNITY, csV. 143 
 
 creatures; whatever defilements they may 
 be thought to have contracted from, 
 them. 
 
 I have read of a man, who would not 
 brook the approach of any human inven- 
 tions to the worfhip, or word of God. 
 This made him cut out of his Bible the 
 contents of the chapters ; and the running- 
 titles of the leaves ; and thus he reduced 
 it to the bare text, diverted of binding 
 and cover ; though yet he could not, for 
 the life of him, contrive how to difcharge 
 it of the paper, on which, nor of the ink, 
 with which, it was printed. And this 
 fame angel ick man purfued the principle 
 of feparation fo far, that at length he 
 withdrew from all fociety with men, left he 
 Ihould communicate with them in their 
 fins. And in this condition he continued, 
 till his children lay dead in the houfe 
 about him ; and he became utterly unable 
 to help himfelf d . 
 
 * Bifhop StiHingfleefs fermon on Phil. iii. 16. Frdtn 
 Ball againft Can. 
 
 What
 
 144 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 What now is to be done ? We hence 
 plainly fee the neceffity of fome me'dlum 
 Ibme line to be drawn. I could give fuch 
 refiners a hint to thispurpofe, if they could 
 help me to get over one objection : And that 
 is, To take their Bibles as they find them. 
 This might ferve their turn to all intents 
 and purpofes ; were it not, that the church 
 here interferes again ; under whofe autho- 
 rity they muft receive them by tradition, 
 through the feveral ages of her exiftence ; 
 as me affumes to be " the keeper, and wit- 
 " nefs, of holy writ." And this unluckily 
 makes one, in part, of her thirty-nine 
 articles. 
 
 This however is the cafe : For as the 
 oracles of God, in the Old Teftament, 
 were committed unto the Jewifi church ; 
 fo are the divine oracles of both Old,' and 
 New, committed to the care of the Chri^ 
 flian church: Whence me is properly 
 ftiled, The pillar and ground, or, as it is in 
 the margin, the ftay, of the truth*. 
 
 i Tim. iii. 15. 
 
 This
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, ?<:. 145 
 
 This privilege, and this authority, is af- 
 cribed to the church, and maintained by 
 Calvin himfelf j for which take his own 
 words. " The Lord, faith he, fo re- 
 " commendeth the authority of his church, 
 " that when it is violated, he reckons his 
 ' own to be diminiihed. Neither is it of 
 " fmall importance, that the church is 
 " called, The pillar, andjlay, of the truth-; 
 and the houfe of God: By which words 
 " Paul fignifieth, that to the end the truth 
 " of God fhould not fail in the world, the 
 " church is a faithful keeper of it ; becaufe 
 " God's will was to have the preaching 
 " of his word kept pure, by her minjftry, 
 " and labour ; and fo to approve himfelf 
 " to us as the Father of his houfehold, 
 while he thus feedeth us with fpiritual 
 " nourifhments ; and procureth all things 
 " that make for our falvationV 
 
 la 
 
 f Sic ejus (ecclefiae) authoritatem commenuat (Do- 
 minus) utdum ilia violator, fui ipfius imminutam cen- 
 feat. Neque enim parvi motnenti eft, quod vocatur co- 
 lumna, et firmamentum veritatis, et domus Dei. Qui- 
 ius verbis fignificat Paulus, ne intcrcidat verijas Dei in 
 L mundo>
 
 i 4 6 IRENIGUM: Or, 
 
 In a word, fubfcription to the fcriptures, 
 in the loofe and general terms that are 
 propofed, anfwers no other end than to 
 profefs, we are not heathens, nor Ma- 
 hometans ; but that we are chriftians of 
 fome denomination, or, .other. 
 
 Nor would a declaration that we are pro- 
 teflants, much mend the matter. This 
 hath been fpoken to already . I (hall only 
 add here, that we cannot make a more ac- 
 ceptable compliment to the church of 
 Rome, nor to the enemies of our common 
 chriftianity, than to wave fubfcription to 
 our articles; If we take away the hedge of 
 the Lord's vineyard, and break down the 
 wall thereof; it will be laid ivajle, and 
 trodden down. The boar out of the wood will 
 wajle it ; and the wild beajl of the field will 
 
 mundo, eccldjairi efie fidem ejus cuftodem : Qala 
 ejus minifterio et opera, voluit Deus puram verbi fui 
 pradicationem confervari ; et fe nobis oftendere patrem 
 familias, cum nos fpiritualibus alimentis pafcit ; et quae- 
 cunque ad falutem noftram faciunt, procurat. Calvv 
 Inftit. lib. iv. cap, u fe^t, 10. 
 ' * P. 69. 
 
 i 'devour
 
 the iMpbRTANCE of UNITY, & c . 147 
 
 devour it. It will be open to the iricurfions 
 of all invaders ; aiid we fliall have no fe- 
 curity againft falfe teachers of any kind. 
 
 Upon the whole, our fafety lies in. our 
 iinion ; nor can the chilrch of Chrifl ever 
 flourifh, or profper, while it is torn by 
 divifions. Schifms in the church are no 
 lefs dangerous, than factions in the flare ; 
 and concord and unanimity are the firmed 
 bonds of fociety in both. 
 
 The heathen foldiers thought it a pity 
 to rend the fearnlefs coat of Chrift : And 
 do his own difciples feel no remorfe in 
 offering that violence, not to his garment, 
 but to his body* the church, of which, 
 they are members ? 
 
 In former times, good men, on both 
 fides, not only lamented our divifionsj and 
 wifhed our breaches might be made up ; but 
 they ufed all their endeavours for that pur* 
 pofe. No lefs than five or fix attempts 
 were made in the laft century, to remove 
 the fcruples of our diflenting brethren^ to 
 reconcile them to the church, and to bring 
 about a comprehension 1 . How they all, 
 JU 2 and
 
 148 IRENICUM: Or, - 
 
 and the lafl efpecially, which was far pro- 
 ceeded in, came to mifcany, is to no pur- 
 pofe now to enquire ; and perhaps might 
 be invidious to relate. 
 
 The ill fuccefs of thefe endeavours dii- 
 couraged all future hopes of a compre- 
 henfion ; and the number of fects having 
 rather been increafed, than diminifhed, 
 fince the revolution, feems to have rendered 
 fuch a defign lefs practicable. The to- 
 leration then granted is looked upon as a 
 fan&ion to them, which gives them a 
 kind of eftablifhment. 
 
 Indeed men feem to have loft all fight 
 of a reconciliation of our religious dif- 
 ferences ; and the late ftruggles which have 
 been made to throw off all connection with 
 the national church, without' any firm 
 bond of union among the authors of them, 
 too plainly (hews, what fpirit they are 
 of; and that they are more difpofed to fly 
 from, than to draw towards, any one com- 
 mon centre: Whereby they s become .ene- 
 mies to the crofi of Cbrift, and militate 
 againft chriit.ianity itfelf. nG3 Juocis 
 ^ Perhaps
 
 IMPORTANCE O/"UNITY, f$c. 149 
 
 Perhaps we are all too much to blame in 
 this refpect ; and have all been too inat- 
 tentive to the cultivation of that truly 
 chriftian temper, which conciliates, and 
 unites thofe that are poffeffed of it, to each 
 other. 
 
 This however is certain, that we all 
 have many great and national offences to 
 anfwer for : And that it is for the Jtns of 
 our prophets, and the iniquhies of our priejls -, 
 as well as for the manifold tranfgreffions of 
 the people of this land in general, which 
 are grown to fuch an enormous height, 
 that the anger of the Lord hath divided us h ; 
 and hath fuffered the fpirit of difcord to go 
 forth, and prevail to fuch an alarming de- 
 gree, that it is high time we mould 
 humble ourfelves under the mighty hand 
 of God ; and betake ourfelves to appeafe 
 his wrath, by a national repentance and 
 reformation ; in order to prevent the in- 
 fli&ion of feverer judgements. If we 
 agree in nothing elfe, we mould agree in 
 h Lam. iv. 13. 16. 
 
 L 3 this :
 
 150 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 this : And that may in time difpofe us to, 
 be like-minded iiv other refpe&s. 
 
 As this great calamity is to be imputed to 
 our fins in general, it concerns us all to en- 
 quire into the more immediate fources of it ; 
 iipt wjth a view of accufing, and recrimi- 
 nating agajnft, each other; but that every 
 party, and every individual, may all call 
 themfelves to a ftricl: account, wherein, and 
 how far, they have feverally contributed 
 to our diyifions. Whether they have taken 
 an atlive part in them ; or have en- 
 couraged, provoked, fomented, coun- 
 tenanced, or even connived at them ? And 
 whether, upon the fevereft fcrutiny, we 
 either can acquit, or muft condemn, our- 
 felves, of having been any way inftru- 
 mental, in promoting, or continuing of 
 our unhappy differences and divifions, w'e 
 ihould all bear in our minds a deep fenfe 
 of the mifchiefs of feparation ; and en- 
 deavour, 'by all the means inourpower ? to 
 guard agaihft, and overcome them. We 
 ihould recoiled, that difcord is an evil, 
 
 pregnant
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. 151 
 pregnant with many evil confequences ; 
 and that neither the church of Chrift in 
 general, nor any particular branch of it, 
 can profper where it prevails. 
 
 As the beft means of fubduing it, we 
 fliould all embrace catholick and uniting 
 principles-, which, if duly implanted, and 
 cultivated in our minds, will operate, with 
 a magnetick force, to attract us towards 
 each other: I fay, catholick and uniting i 
 and I join thofe two terms together, be- 
 caufe they are infeparable in their natures ; 
 and neither can be effectual, or complete 
 without the other. 
 
 Univerfal benevolence is the acknow- 
 ledged duty of all chriftians ; and ought 
 certainly to be extended to all thofe who 
 differ from us in religious fentiment. This 
 all muft allow. And therefore it is com- 
 mon to hear men make great profefiions of 
 charity, towards thofe they cannot agree 
 with in this refpecl. But where interefts 
 clam, charity too often fuffers; and a 
 (lender acquaintance with human nature 
 may convince us, that in a matter of fo 
 L 4 interefling
 
 152 I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 interefting a concern, as religion, our re- 
 ientment, againft fuch as differ from us in 
 it, generally rifes in proportion to our zeal 
 for it. Plence men will hardly be brought 
 to any true, and cordial affection towards 
 each other, when there are confiderable 
 differences in their religious principles, 
 opinions, modes of worfhip, and dif- 
 cipline. It is next to impoffible, fo he- 
 terogeneous a mixture mould be brought 
 to incorporate. But uniformity of wor- 
 fhip naturally promotes unity of fentiment; 
 and unity of fentiment, unity of affection. 
 
 On the other hand, if our charity be 
 iincere, and truly chriftian, it will warm 
 our hearts towards each other ; and will 
 draw us together with the cords of a man, 
 with the bands of love. It will difpofe 
 us to a fetlawjbjp 'of fpirit ; and by degrees 
 will bring us to fpeak the fame things ; to 
 profefs the fame doctrines; and to be 
 joined together in the fame judgement, 
 belief, and principle. But if men are my, 
 and fufpicious, and keep aloof from each 
 other If they are ftiff, and uncomplying, 
 
 and
 
 The IMPORTANCE O/*UNITY, &fc. 153 
 
 and are more difpofed to widen our 
 breaches, than to clofe them ; let them 
 profefs what they will, they mew, that a 
 private, party fpirit ftill prevails ; and that 
 is not the fpirit of the Gofpel. 
 
 Great profeffions of charity are often 
 met with, in the writings of the weaker 
 party : But if they are not accompanied 
 with fome more iubftantial proofs than 
 words 3 they give room to fufpeft, they 
 are meant only to keep fair with thofe in 
 power. 
 
 It would become all It would be the 
 praife of all parties, to turn their eyes, 
 with a more favourable afpecl, towards 
 each other; and to confider, whether 
 there be not a poffibility, if not of re- 
 conciling our differences, yet of approach- 
 ing nearer to each other To that end, 
 let not the one wait, in expectation of the 
 other's moving firft ; but let there be a 
 laudable emulation for the lead in this 
 refpeft. 
 
 It is therefore humbly fubmitted to ou.r 
 governors in church and ftate, whether it 
 
 would
 
 I REN I CUM: Or, 
 
 would be at all beneath whether it would 
 not be worthy the dignity, and fuitable 
 to the known moderation, of the church of 
 England^ to make the firft advance ? 
 
 And furely all thofe feveral bodies of 
 proteftants, which feparate from her, 
 would be moved by the example, to take 
 fame fteps to meet the national church ; 
 if they would not even contend, wht> 
 fhould appear foremoft in fo good a caufe ; 
 each being afhamed to be left behind. 
 
 As a proof of their good difpofitions in 
 this refped, they will moderate the flik of 
 their writings: foften all acrimony of ex- 
 preflion; avoid and difcourage all inflam- 
 matory and feditious difcourfes, and pub- 
 lications j and in their whole condut, 
 follow after the things that make for peace. 
 
 They will confider, that not only in 
 their feparate capacities each, but that all 
 in their joint capacities likewife, are in- 
 ferior in number to the church of England; 
 and form the leffer body in general : And 
 that, as in natural and political bodies, 
 'the Ifghter is-j^utweighed by the heavier, 
 
 and
 
 *fhe IMPORTANCE O/'UNITY, &c. 15$ 
 
 and attracted by it; and the weaker gives way 
 o the ftronger ; fo in the religious world, 
 in this refpeft, the lefler body of chriftians 
 fhould yield to the greater, fubmit to the 
 laws of attraction, and fuffer themfelves to 
 be drawn by the greater force, and united to 
 it ; provided the differences between them 
 ftiould prove to be not quite unfurmount- 
 able ; and might be reduced within fuch 
 a compafs as to afford the profpedl of a re- 
 conciliation: Becaufe it is a firft principle 
 m fociety, as obferved already, that the 
 inclinations of the minority be over-ruled 
 by the judgement and decifion of the fu- 
 perior number. And indeed it is no more 
 than the chriftian law of unity requires, 
 that they mould conform, as far they can ; 
 without putting a force upon their own 
 cqnfciences ; and that in lefler matters, 
 and matters otherwife of indifference at 
 leaft, they mould yield fo far, as they are 
 indifferent ; make fome compliances and 
 conceffions ; and offer fome cheap facrifices, 
 that would coft them little, or nothing. 
 
 * And
 
 156 IRENIOUM; Or, 
 
 And would God, they would reflect, 
 that matters of indifference make no incon- 
 fiderable part of the differences between us ! 
 For thefe reafons, our diflenting brethren 
 will not fcruple to agree, in making the 
 church of England the bajls and centre of 
 an union, or comprehenfion. The author 
 of The rights of the chriftian church, feems 
 to apprehend, that the uniting of chriftians 
 under any one external head, or form of 
 government, as the centre of catholick 
 union and communion, muft inevitably 
 terminate in a Popedom. But as long as 
 the church of England is dependent upon 
 the ftate, all fuch apprehenfions are as 
 groundlefs, as, in this writer, they \vere 
 affected. 
 
 The apoftle's rule, in the cafe before 
 us, merits our moft ferious attention. 
 Whereto ive have already attained, let us 
 walk by the fame rule : Let us mind the 
 fame thing 5 . As far as we have hitherto 
 attained, or poffibly can attain unto; or 
 advance towards each other, let us drive 
 1 Phil. iii. 16. 
 
 5 to
 
 The IMPORT ANCE o/" UNITY, '&c. 157 
 to accompany one another, walk together, 
 and bring our fentiments, as nearly as we 
 can, to concur with each other. And if 
 there be {till fome fcruples which we 
 cannot overcome, or fome doubts and dif- 
 ficulties, which we are not able to get 
 over if in any fuch things as.thefe, we 
 it ill continue to be otherwife minded, God, 
 when he fees the good difpofitions of our 
 hearts, fliall, in his due time, reveal even 
 this unto us k . 
 
 Now fuppofing an attempt to bring about 
 a comprehenfion 'were determined upon ; 
 the firft thing that feems to prefent itfelf 
 is, a revifal of cur articles and liturgy ; in 
 whatever manner the wifdom of our go- 
 vernors in church and (rate may think fit. 
 And it is the heart's defire of many good, 
 and very refpeftable perfons - f and many of 
 the firmed friends of the church of Eng- 
 land, both among the clergy and laity, 
 that this work fhould be fet about ; and 
 that fuch alterations may be made in both, 
 as would remove all real objections, and 
 
 k Phil. ver. 15. 
 
 give
 
 158 1R EN I CUM: Or* 
 
 give all reasonable fatisfation tothofe that 
 are without, as well as witliin, tile church. 
 
 The articles might undergo a particular 
 Scrutiny ; and be reduced to the touchftone 
 of fcripture* one by one. The moft fun- 
 damental ones, and thofe againft popery 
 I take it for granted, would, for fubftance, 
 be retained : And the fpeculative articles, 
 with fuch others, as are of lefs confe- 
 quence, might be omitted, or altered, as 
 would be judged mod proper : And fome 
 refpe&ing the prefent times might perhaps 
 be inferted in their ftead. But that, upon 
 the whole, the number of them mould 
 be rather reduced, than added to ; that no 
 greater burden be /rf/Vupon,fubfcribers, than 
 what confifts of neceffary things -, according 
 to the apofroUcal rule '. 
 
 As no Jiuman compofition is fo. perfect, 
 as not to be capable of improvement ; and 
 as there is no antieut compofition in our 
 language, but what mud fuffer particu- 
 
 1 Afti xv. 28. 
 
 lady, 
 
 -
 
 IMPORT AN CE of UNITY, &c. 159 
 larly, by the mutation and flux of it ; and 
 though perhaps nothing hath contributed 
 more to the preservation of \heEngli/h lan- 
 guage, than the conftant ufe of our li- 
 turgy, and of the fcriptures, in tfye vulgar 
 tongue; yet, I prefume, no one now 
 doubts, but that tfye liturgy may be im- 
 proved ; by the change of obfolete words, 
 phrafes, and cuftoms by fome more fub- 
 ftantial alterations in its fervice by the 
 addition, perhaps, of fome occafional 
 offices and by the better adjuftingof fome 
 circumftantials of external order. 
 
 And I flatter myfelf that when the trial 
 comes to be made, there will not be much 
 need of improvement found, betides in 
 circumftantials* Our church is found in 
 its conftitution; and I truft feels no decay 
 in its integral parts, that wants much, if 
 any, repair. But if whatever improve- 
 ments it is capable of, in doclrine, dif- 
 cipline, and wormip, were made in it, 
 confidently with the fundamentals of 
 chriftianity, and the principles on which
 
 i6o I RE NIC UM: Or, 
 
 it is eftabliftied m ; the benefits would be 
 manifold, and ineftimable. 
 
 This would enlarge the borders of our 
 church would conciliate fome to her 
 would filence others; and give no juft 
 caufe of offence to any. It would, at the 
 fame time, be highly beneficial to our- 
 felves. It would be the means of our 
 greater edification, and would render our 
 liturgy ftill the more reafonable fervicz. 
 It would demonftrate our candor and in- 
 genuity would teftify our chanty, and 
 defire to embrace all thofe that feparate 
 from us. It would juftify our conduct to 
 the world : It would be an additional re- 
 commendation of our church, to all other 
 proteflant churches ; and, if brought to a 
 
 B TertulUan "lays down an excellent rule in this re- 
 fpe. Regula quidem fidei una omnino eft, fola, 
 immobilis, et irreformabilis, credendi fcilicet in 
 unicum Deum et filium ejus Jefum Chriftum -Hie 
 lege fidei manente, caetera jam difciplinas, et conver- 
 fationis, admittunt novitatem corre&ionis, operante 
 feilicet, et proficiente ufque ad finem gratia Dei. 
 
 Tertull. de virg. velandis, cap. i. 
 happy
 
 ^IMPORTANCE of UNIT. Y,&C. 161 
 
 happy conclufion, would be the glory of 
 the prefent reign. 
 
 As chriftians, in their private capacities, 
 ought always to be going on unto perfec- 
 tion; fo ought they, in their publick 
 and aggregate capacity, the church, like- 
 wife. 
 
 " It is the glory of our Englift church" 
 fays one of her learned divines, " and 
 " what fhe often boafts of, that me is the 
 *' neareft of any now in the chriftian 
 " world, to the primitive model. It is 
 " not, I prefume, denied, that fhe might 
 " be nearer ftill : And if her glory be 
 " great, for being fo near\ it would cer- 
 " tainly be greater, if fhe were yet 
 " nearer*? 
 
 In purfuance of this noble defign, I beg 
 leave to hint at one or two improvements 
 more in our church - 3 which fome time or 
 other, it may be prefumed, will take 
 place. 
 
 n Dr. MarJhaF* preface to his tranfiation of St. Cy 
 frian, p. J 2. 
 
 M Though
 
 162 I REN I CUM: Or 9 
 
 Though our Engl/Jh tranilation of the 
 Bible is an excellent one; and, in the 
 judgement of a very learned man, the beft 
 in the world ; yet it is thought to have 
 its imperfections ; and a new tranflatiou 
 hath been long wifhed for, as one of our 
 greatefr. deflderata. The diftribution of this 
 undertaking among feveral able hands, in 
 like manner with that, in which the lad 
 tranflation, made by authority, was exe- 
 cuted, would render this great work the 
 more eafy, expeditious, and accurate : And 
 the original languages of holy writ 
 having of late been much ftudied ; it 
 cannot be faid we are in want of perfons 
 duly qualified for the talk. 
 
 An excellent body of laws p was drawn 
 up, for the ufe of our church, at the be- 
 ginning of the Reformation ; but, unhap- 
 pily, it could never obtain the fanclion of 
 pubiick authority ; and it hath ever fince 
 lain dormant, as a dead -letter. If the 
 times would bear, that thefe laws, and our 
 
 Mr. Seldtn, in his Table Talk. 
 
 ' Re/ormatio legum ecclsfiafticarum. 
 
 2 canons
 
 The IMPORTANCE <?/ UNITY, 8V. 163 
 
 canons too, might be revifed, and enforced 
 by the authority of the legiflature ; no- 
 thing would be more defirable, if any 
 thing more could be defired, for the im- 
 provement of our difcipline. 
 
 Bifhop Burnet hints, that the Reforma- 
 tion was not carried on to the perfection, 
 that was defigned, and wimed for ; and he 
 exhorts us to wait, and pray for fuch a 
 glorious conjuncture, as may reftore every 
 thing among us to a primitive purity and 
 fplendor'i. We 'have waited long; and I 
 doubt we have long to wait {till, before 
 the whole of fo large a defign be carried 
 into execution. However, we may do fome- 
 thing towards it fomething might be at- 
 tempted towards making a beginning. We 
 at leaft may, and ought to make it the 
 fubjeft of our conftant, and fervent 
 prayers: Nor do I fee, that the prefent 
 conjuncture is fo unfavourable for it, as 
 many, I doubt, apprehend it to be. The 
 prejudices of fome churchmen, to which 
 the mifcarriage of a compreheniion, 
 
 * Conclufion of his Hiftory of the Reformation. 
 
 M 2 defigned
 
 1 64 IRENlCUM: Or, 
 
 defigned in 1689, hath been chiefly imputed, 
 are now entirely worn away. We may 
 learn wifdom from the hiftory of it. The 
 proceedings in that defign are known to be 
 extant ; and recourfe, I prefume,may be had 
 to them. They may ferve as a good ground- 
 work to build upon : And the voice of the 
 publick calls for the tryal. And if it be fet 
 about in good earneft, our church, under 
 the divine aufpices, may be brought to a re- 
 femblance of the purity and iimplicity of 
 the primitive church ; and our Zion may 
 become the^'^y of the whole earth. It may 
 by degrees draw near to that perfect ftate, 
 which we have grounds to hope the uni- 
 verfal church will at length arrive at; 
 when Chrift, her fpoufe, (hall prefent her 
 to himfelf a glorious church, not having fpct, 
 
 or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; being holy, 
 and without blemijh. 
 
 To conclude. We have feen, that there 
 
 is fuch a thing, as to be perfectly joined 
 
 together, in the fame mind, and in the fame 
 judgement; otherwife, we would not be 
 
 exhorted to it. We would not be fo much 
 
 infr-
 
 The IMPORTANCE ofUvi TY, &c. 165' 
 intreated, and prefied, to endeavour at 
 what is impoffible to be attained ; nor en- 
 couraged to hope for fuch happinefs, as is' 
 never to be acquired. 
 
 Such divines therefore mud furely have 
 but ill learned Chrift, or muft have loft all 
 fight of his precepts, who pronounce " any 
 ** attempt towards avoiding diverfity of 
 ct opinion to be not only an ufelefs, but an 
 " imprafticabk fcheme 1 "." What! are our 
 religious differences fuch Indifferent things, 
 that it is immaterial what our opinions 
 are ? Is it of no ufe to avoid, or prevent, 
 perfections, and maflacres, which have 
 often been the confequences of them ? 
 And is the peace and harmony of the Chri- 
 ftian world not worth preferving? And 
 to pronounce that to be impracticable, 
 which God, in his holy word, hath en- 
 joined, and declared to be attainable, is 
 flrange divinity indeed. 
 
 However difcouraging the profpect may 
 be at prefent, we are aflured, by the 
 frigheft authority, and by the certainty of 
 
 r Confeffional, p. 2, 
 
 M ' faft,
 
 i66 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 fact, that a perfect harmony once reigned 
 in the church of Chrift. The fiat difci- 
 ples were *// of one .heart , and one foul: 
 And we have good grounds to hope, th,at 
 the fame Defied temper mall again prevail 
 among Chriftians. The prophet Ezekiel 
 foretels, that the two flicks, of Judah and 
 jfofeph, fhal( in the end be joined together, 
 and become one j and the whole houfe of 
 Jfraelbe one nation that they alljball have 
 one Jhepherd\ and that one kingjhall be king 
 ever them all*. 
 
 And to prevent all doubt, whether this 
 concerns the chrifHan church, pur Saviour 
 himfelf aflures us, that it likewife in the 
 end {hall confift of onefold^ and one ftiep- 
 berd*. Not to cite any other predictions, 
 and prophetical intimations of the fame 
 bleffed event. 
 
 We have good grounds therefore to 
 liope, that the time will come^ when, we 
 of this nation, notwithftandjug prefent 
 appearances, (hall have our breaches re- 
 paired, and become onefold likewife, and 
 
 8 Ezek. xxxvii. 1524, l John x. 16.
 
 IMPORTANCE of UNITY, 8V. 167 
 
 be gathered into one body, under the good 
 fhepherd of our fouls ; who gave his life 
 for the fheep, that he might unite them 
 to himfelf, and to each other. We will 
 therefore beware of defeating the end of 
 his death by our .divifions. 
 
 Our Lord reprefents his church under 
 the lively emblem of a vine, of which he 
 reckons himfelf to be the root; and the 
 members of it as the branches; which 
 therefore can have no life, but what they 
 draw from him. He teaches them, that, 
 by their abiding in him, they bear fruit, 
 and flourifh ; but, if they abide not in 
 him, he moft affuredly warns them of 
 their wretched fate; which can be none 
 other, than to be rejected, as withered 
 branches ; which are fit for nothing, but 
 to be cajl into the fire ^ and burned' 1 . 
 
 We have feen, that our Saviour confi- 
 ders us all, as one body, and himfeif, as 
 the head of it. What a grievous thing is 
 it, for .the members to raife a mutiny in 
 his body ! How muft they all fuffer by it! 
 
 n John xvi. I 6. 
 
 JVH
 
 i68 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 And how dreadful the confequence in the 
 end, if continued in! How neceflary 
 therefore is it to our mutual prefervation, 
 that it be appeafed! 
 
 The apoftle intreats us, to ufe all our 
 endeavours to keep the unity of the Spirit in 
 the bond of peace ; and enforces his advice 
 with various arguments, to the fame pur- 
 pofe. Shall we be deaf to them all ? Nor 
 fuffer them to have any weight with us ? 
 We have feen, that by unity in the faith 
 it is, that the body of Chrift is to be edi- 
 fied. By difunion then it muft be de- 
 ft royed. 
 
 This great principle of unity is the 
 chief cement, by which this his whole 
 body is fitly and clofely compared toge- 
 ther, diffufing itfelf, and efficacipufly per- 
 vading every part ; promoting the increafe 
 and edification of the whole, in love. 
 Surely, it is very unnatural to aim at dif- 
 folving this cement, fo eflential to our 
 own fubfiftence to offer at untying, much 
 more at cutting, this facred knot, in which
 
 *The IMPORTANCE O/"UNITY, &:, 169 
 
 all our flrength'lieth. On the contrary, 
 we mould think it incumbent upon us-r 
 we fhould think it our mutual intereft, one 
 and all, to confpire, in drawing it clofer, 
 if we poffibly can in improving, and in 
 the end, perfecting ourfelves in love: By 
 which means, we mall attain unto the ori- 
 ginal Standard of our nature unto the full 
 meafure, andjlature of Cbrifl. 
 
 Therefore, If there be any confolation in 
 Cbrifl If any comfort of love -If anyfel- 
 lowjhip of the Spirit If any bowels and 
 mercies ; fulfill ye our common joy; that ye 
 be like-minded, having the fame love, being of 
 one accord, of one mind. And put on, as 
 the eleft of God, holy and beloved, bowels 
 of mercies, kindnefs, humblenefs of mind, 
 meeknefs, long-fuffering, forbearing one 
 another. And, above all things, put on cha- 
 rity ; which is the bond of perfeffinefs ; and 
 let the peace of God rule in. your hearts; to 
 which alfo ye are called in one body % 
 
 T Phil. ii. i, 2. 
 ? Col. iii. 12 15.
 
 170 IRENICUM: Or, 
 
 And the God of patience and confolatlon 
 grant you to be like-minded one towards ano- 
 ther ', according to Chrift Jefus: That ye may % 
 With one mind, and one. mouth, glorify God, 
 tven the Father of our Lord Jcfus Chrift *, 
 Amen. 
 
 I cannot better clofe thefe papers, than 
 with the following prayer, taken out of 
 our excellent liturgy ; which deferves to 
 be oftener ufed in our publick worfhip. 
 
 " O Qod, the Father of our Lord Jefus 
 f < Chrift, our only Saviour, the Prince of 
 " Peace ! give us grace ferioufly to lay to 
 * heart the great dangers we are in, by 
 * l our unhappy divifions. Take away all 
 ?' hatred and prejudice, and whatfoever 
 ** elfe may hinder us from godly union, 
 $* and concord : That, as there is but one 
 *' body ; and one Spirit ; and one hope 
 " of our calling; one Lord; one faith; 
 *' one baptifm ; one God and Father of 
 <{ us all : So we may henceforth be all 
 " of one heart, and of one foul ; united 
 f* iji one holy bond, of truth and peace, 
 
 y Rom, xv. ^ ? 6. 
 
 W Of
 
 The IMPORTANCE of UNITY, &c. iji 
 " of faith and charity ; and may with 
 "one mind, and -one mouth, glorify 
 " thee, through Jefus Chrift our Lord. 
 Amen z ." 
 
 * From the Office for the King's Acceffion to 
 the Throne. 
 
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